ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

CAP

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Prime Minister on the future of the common agricultural policy.

Jim Knight: holding answer 21 October 2005
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State discusses important policy issues frequently with the Prime Minister and her other Cabinet colleagues.

Cattle Passports

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many applications for cattle passports were rejected for being out of time in each year since 2000.

Jim Knight: The 27-day deadline for submitting a cattle passport application is a requirement of the Cattle Identification Regulations 1998. It has been strictly enforced since 21 November 2003. Before that date, a less rigorous approach was taken.
	Applications received after the deadline are rejected. However the animals are registered on the Cattle Tracing System and are fully traceable.
	In the period from 28 September 1998 to 20 November 2003, a total of 5,832 passport applications were rejected because they were not received within the legal time limits and the identity and traceability of the animal could not be established. These figures cannot be broken down into years.
	The number of applications rejected since 21 November 2003 is as follows:
	
		
			  Rejected(1) 
		
		
			 2003 3,552 
			 2004 20,869 
			 2005(2) 10,058 
		
	
	(1) These figures do not include applications which were late but also failed validation for various other reasons. For example dam calf validation problems, for instance calved too soon, or lack of mandatory info e.g. breed or sex.
	(2) Up to 16 October 2005.

Coastal Defences

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what forms of renewable soft sea defences, other than groynes and shingle banks, are being employed for coastal protection around the English coastline.

Elliot Morley: Defra has overall policy responsibility for flood and coastal erosion risk in England, funds most of the Environment Agency's flood management activities (including for flooding from the sea) and provides grant aid on a project by project basis to local authorities for their coastal defence improvement projects. Defra does not build defences, direct the authorities on which specific projects to undertake nor in general specify the materials and techniques to be used.
	The Government encourage authorities to consider a variety of options when considering solutions. A key point is that authorities should work with natural processes wherever possible and the use of beaches to absorb wave energy is a widely used soft" technique. However, Defra does not hold information centrally on the various other techniques that might be in use and I regret that I cannot answer the question in more detail without incurring disproportionate cost.

Coastal Defences

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost of (a) environmental impact assessments, (b) permissions and (c) licences for (i) remedial work to existing coastal defences in Suffolk and (ii) emergency reinforcement work to existing coastal defences in Suffolk has been in each of the past five years.

Elliot Morley: The Environment Agency estimates their expenditure on gaining permissions, licences and environmental impact assessments as (a) £2,000 per year for remedial works (largely staff costs linked to consultation with external bodies such as English Nature regarding the annual maintenance programme); and (b) £4,000 per year for emergency reinforcement works (staff costs seeking permissions such as Food and Environment Protection Act licences, English Nature consents, plus collaborative survey work to inform operational work).

Coastal Defences

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) average and (b) fastest rate of coastline erosion is along unprotected parts of the Suffolk coast.

Elliot Morley: Defra has overall policy responsibility for coastal erosion risk in England and grant aids individual local authority improvement projects to reduce this risk but does not build defences, nor direct the authorities on which specific projects to undertake. Management of coastal erosion risk and associated monitoring is the responsibility of the relevant local authority in each area. The information requested is not held by Defra.

Coastal Defences

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how long she expects the existing coastal defences at Sizewell to remain viable.

Elliot Morley: I understand the Environment Agency is responsible for 0.5 km of flood defence at Sizewell Village. This is dune with good beach, and stable at present. The shoreline management plan has a hold the line" policy for this frontage.
	The power station is protected to a 1:10,000 standard. That is, it is protected against all events except those with a probability of occurrence in any one year of less than 1 in 10,000. I understand British Energy owns this defence and has regular liaison meetings with the agency. The environmental risks associated with the site flooding dictate that the defences must remain viable until such time as the site is deemed safe.
	North of the power station to Minsmere cliffs is an Environment Agency responsibility and defences are the subject of the current Minsmere sea defence study. Re-alignment of defences is a possibility in 60 to 100 years on current erosion rates. Present standards of defence range from 1:2–10 to 1:200. Residual life is currently considered to be between 25 years and 1,000 years for different sections. There are secondary defences in place for the defences of lower standard which provide a minimum of 40 to 60 years residual life.

Combined Heat and Power

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the grants available for the installation and use of combined heat and power equipment.

Elliot Morley: Defra's Community Energy programme is the only direct grant support for CHP and we are currently developing a £10 million extension. There are additionally a number of fiscal measures which benefit CHP schemes. These include exemption from the climate change levy for fuel inputs and electricity outputs and the extension in Budget 2005 of the 5 per cent. VAT rate to all domestic micro-CHP appliances. We are additionally assessing a range of measures through the current review of the Climate Change programme.

Consultancy

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many consultants her Department employs; and how much has been spent on consultants in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: Defra came into being in June 2001. Information on consultancy expenditure prior to this date can only be identified at disproportionate cost. I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to my hon. Friend the member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 13 June 2005, Official Report, columns 35–36W, and on 21 July 2005, Official Report, columns 1962–63W.

Departmental Vehicles

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many vehicles for which the Department is responsible are fitted with retreaded tyres.

Jim Knight: The Department does not keep a central record of the type of tyres which are fitted to vehicles for which it is responsible.

Farm Regulation

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she last met the president of the Country Land and Business Association to discuss the impact of regulations on farm businesses; and what the outcome was.

Jim Knight: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, last met with Mark Hudson, the president of the Country Land and Business Association on 17 May, when a number of issues were discussed.
	I have met Mr. Hudson on several occasions since then and discussed issues of concern to the Association's members.

Farm Subsidies

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with tenant farmers and their representatives concerning the implications of delays in single farm payments.

Jim Knight: Officials from Defra and the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) meet representatives of both the Tenant Farmers' Association (TFA) and the National Farmers' Union (NFU) on a regular basis and the two organisations are represented on RPA's Industry Forum, which last met on 19 October 2005. RPA also has a Single Payment Scheme (SPS) technical stakeholders' group which meets frequently, most recently on 9 September and 17 October 2005. Again, both the TFA and the NFU are represented on this group.
	There are also regular bilateral contacts with both organisations to discuss the implementation of the SPS and the associated implications for tenants and farmers in general. Lord Bach, Under-Secretary with responsibility for Sustainable Food and Farming, last met the TFA on 28 June 2005 and the President of the NFU on 28 September 2005 and Johnston McNeill, chief executive of RPA, met with the chief executive of the TFA on 29 September 2005.
	RPA announced in January of this year that SPS payments were most likely to commence in February 2006; well within the regulatory payment window which runs to June 2006. During the course of regular discussion with industry representatives RPA officials have re-affirmed that they remain on course to start payments in February.

Fuel Poverty

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of recent fuel price rises on fuel poverty; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: In our publication The UK Fuel Poverty Strategy: Third Annual Progress Report" in July 2005, it was estimated that, excluding consideration of energy efficiency improvements, recent price increases are likely to have increased the number of vulnerable households in fuel poverty in England by up to 400,000 households between 2003 and 2006.
	It is critical that the impact of rising prices on fuel poverty is kept under close scrutiny. The Government are committed to doing this and considering whether further action may be needed. Moreover, together with colleagues across Government, we are working with energy companies in seeking to mitigate the impact of rising prices for the most vulnerable customers.

Fuel Poverty

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the Fuel Poverty Advisory Group's estimate of the expenditure needed to achieve Government fuel poverty targets by 2010; and what her Department's estimate is of the resources required for this purpose.

Elliot Morley: We are grateful to the Fuel Poverty Advisory Group for their analysis and are currently considering their estimates regarding the level of resource required to meet our 2010 fuel poverty targets, in conjunction with the Government's own analysis.
	We are committed to continuing to monitor closely the impact of rising prices and, together with colleagues across Government, to work with energy companies in seeking to mitigate their impact for the most vulnerable customers.

GM-free Zones

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the powers of the EU Commission to overrule the wish of member states to declare GM-free zones or regions following the recent European Court decision.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 21 October 2005
	Under existing EU law, in order to declare a GM-free zone, that is a region where GM crops cannot be cultivated, a member state has to prove that there are special reasons to introduce national measures. Austria applied for a derogation from Directive 2001/18/EC to declare the region of Upper Austria a GM-free zone. However, the European Court of Justice ruled against this measure, as the Austrian Government failed to prove that the region of' Upper Austria had a unique ecosystem which might justify a specific local risk assessment.
	EU law, as agreed by EU member states, sets out procedures which allow an individual GM crop to be approved for cultivation throughout the whole of the EU only if a detailed assessment confirms that it does not pose an unacceptable risk to health or the environment. Under current EU law, as agreed by EU member states, the only legitimate grounds for narrowing the geographical scope of an approval to prevent cultivation in a defined zone are the production of clear evidence that the GM crop involved poses a particular risk to the specific area in question. In the Austrian case, the European Court of Justice found that Austria had not demonstrated the existence of any such risks to the region of Upper Austria.

Media Relations

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Department has spent on external media relations in each month of the last year.

Jim Knight: Over the last year Defra's Communications Directorate has spent the following on external media relations:
	
		
			 Agency Cost (£) Project Date 
		
		
			 Media Moguls 261,558.70 Illegal Food Imports Campaign Phase 1 July 2004-March 2005 
			 Media Moguls 22,362.31 Illegal Food Imports Campaign Phase 2 August 2005-present 
			 Amazon Public Relations 55,904.84 Launch of the Sustainable Development Strategy January 2005-May 2005 
			 Amazon Public Relations 18,750 Sustainable Development case studies August 2005 to date 
		
	
	Both agencies provided specialist skills and services not currently available within Defra's Communications Directorate.

Milk

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the retail price of a litre of liquid milk.

Jim Knight: The retail price of liquid milk is for the market to determine and it varies depending on the outlet (e.g. supermarket, corner shop or convenience store). It includes costs for production, processing, packaging and transport.

New Reservoirs

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many new reservoirs (a) have been built since 1997, (b) are in the course of construction and (c) are planned to be built; and what steps she is taking to ensure that future demand for water is met.

Elliot Morley: No major public water supply reservoirs have been built since 1997 or are currently under construction. In fulfilment of their duties to maintain adequate supplies of water, several water companies propose to enlarge existing reservoirs (three in total) or construct new ones (five in total). These proposals were set out in the 25-year water resources plans they prepared in 2004. The Environment Agency has advised Ministers about the appropriateness of these proposals and other measures to ensure security of supply in its report Maintaining water supply", which was published in July 2004.
	The Environment Agency is the statutory body with a duty to manage water resources in England and Wales. As part of the agency's management role it has national and regional water resource strategies which set out the pressures over the next 25 years. Water companies have water resource plans that complement the agency's strategies and seek to reconcile supply with anticipated demand. These water resource plans are produced voluntarily, every five years, at present but will become a statutory requirement under the provisions of the Water Act 2003.

Organic Food Labelling

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when her Department plans to publish its recommendations for the labelling threshold for organic food.

Jim Knight: The European Commission is expected soon to propose an amendment to Council Regulation 2092/91 to clarify the threshold to be applied for GM presence in organic food. We will consult stakeholders on that proposal, exploring with them what the appropriate threshold might be.

Pollution (Bystander Exposure)

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the report by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution on bystander exposure.

Elliot Morley: The Government will need to consider the report and its recommendations fully. Defra will be addressing the recommendations in the coming weeks and months and will co-ordinate a Government response by next summer.

Queen's Flight

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many officials accompanied her each time she used the Queen's flight in the last 12 months.

Margaret Beckett: Usually the Queen's flight is full to capacity, though the number of officials on board can vary depending on the timing of meetings of officials which often differ from those of Ministers.

Regionally Distinct Food

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to promote regionally distinct food.

Jim Knight: We have recently announced a further £2 million of funding for the implementation of the Government's Regional Food Strategy. Currently, Food from Britain (FFB) are delivering, on behalf of and funded by Defra, the final year of a three-year national programme of support for the quality regional food sector.
	The £1 million a year funding has supported a raft of measures to strengthen the sector, including tasking the Regional Food Groups to encourage uptake of the Protected Food Names Schemes, which has resulted in a number of new applications to protect our regionally distinct food. In May, FFB organised a Protected Food Name Scheme seminar to bring together producers and key stakeholders with the objective of educating, informing and stimulating further uptake of the scheme.
	I am pleased to say that all this effort is yielding some positive results. To date, 36 UK products have been registered so far including Stilton Cheese, Cornish Clotted Cream and West Country Farmhouse Cheddar. A further 21 applications are being considered. Although this is lower than some of the southern European member states who have a much longer tradition of using geographical indications and, arguably, a structure and culture of production more attuned to their protection, it does compare well with quite a number of other member states.
	Further information, including details of all UK registered protected food names can be found on our website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodrin/foodname/intro.htm

Rights of Way (Appeals)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many appeals there have been against designations as a right of way under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, broken down by local authority area.

Jim Knight: There is no provision for appeal against designation as a right of way under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.
	On the assumption that the question seeks the number of appeals in relation to the mapping of land as open country and registered common land under Part I (Right of Access) of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, the information we have is as follows.
	
		
			 Area Number of appeal decisions made 
		
		
			 South East 131 
			 Lower North West 630 
			 Central South 480 
			 Upper North West 716 
			 North East 300 
			 South West 435 
			 West 288 
			 East 193 
		
	
	We do not hold figures on the total number of appeals submitted, only the number of appeal decisions made. Nor do we have the figures broken down by local authority area. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

River Minsmere

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what environmental impact assessments have been conducted as to the likely effects of the reopening of a river mouth for the Minsmere river to (a) Eastbridge and Lower Abby and (b) the coastline five miles south of Minsmere.

Elliot Morley: I understand that no such environmental impact assessments have been done but that the Environment Agency is undertaking a study into sea defences at Minsmere which should be complete next summer.

Sewage Odour Minimisation

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to minimise odours before sewage is spread on farmland, with particular reference to Gravesham.

Elliot Morley: The storage of sewage sludge to be spread on land is regulated by the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994, as amended. These allow exemptions from the need for a waste management licence, provided certain criteria are met. There is an over-riding requirement that the activity should not endanger human health and not use processes or methods which could harm the environment or cause nuisance through noise or odours.
	Local authorities have a duty under Part III of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to deal with statutory nuisances. If satisfied that the odour amounts to a statutory nuisance, the local authority must serve a notice requiring the abatement of the nuisance or prohibiting or restricting its recurrence. The non-statutory Code of Practice for the Agricultural Use of Sewage Sludge also makes recommendations relating to odour.
	Neither the Department nor the Environment Agency are aware of any particular issues in the Gravesham area relating to the storage or spreading of sewage sludge.

Sustainable Procurement Task Force

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 12 September 2005, Official Report, column 2418W, on the civil service, how the work of the Sustainable Procurement Task Force will take into account the recommendations of the Gershon Report.

Elliot Morley: The Sustainable Procurement Task Force was set up in May 2005, and will report jointly to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, by April 2006.
	Value for money policy and the Efficiency Review should not present a barrier to sustainable procurement. Sustainable procurement and efficient procurement should be mutually re-enforcing, because Departments are encouraged to procure goods and services which offer the best value for money over the lifetime of the contract rather than lowest price.
	Defra is working alongside OGC to ensure that the Gershon review recommendations are reflected in the Sustainable Procurement Task Force National Action Plan.

Timber

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will promote a ban on illegally felled timber at EU level.

Elliot Morley: The European Commission published its Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan on illegal logging in May 2003. This describes a package of measures, including proposals that the EU enters into partnership agreements with timber producing countries to establish a licensing system designed to identify products and license them for export to the EU.
	It also proposed that the Commission would look at other options to tackle illegal logging, including using Government procurement and banning the importation of all illegal timber to the EU which the UK strongly favours.
	Government believe that as a first step to address illegal logging, it is necessary to build consensus with producing countries and make sure that we do not discriminate against legitimate trade. The EU Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Regulation, with its innovative approach of bilateral trade agreements and development assistance for improving forest governance, will achieve this in the first instance.
	However the Government have not lost sight of the need to look at other options to tackle illegal logging and we await the European Commission's report on additional options that will allow us to take this work forward.

Timber

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent research she has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on, or been a party to, the effect of illegal logging on (i) international forests, (ii) wildlife and (iii) indigenous peoples; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The UK, together with other EU and G8 countries, has been working on solutions to the problems of illegal logging and the associated trade in illegally harvested timber for several years. This work, much of it supported by funding from the Department for International Development (DFID), has sought to understand the severity and scale of the problem, and also the consequences of possible solutions in order to inform policy development. Most relevant research is displayed on the independent website run by the Royal Institute of International Affairs at Chatham House and supported by the Department for International Development (DFID): www.illegal-logging.info
	Some examples of recent research are illustrated as follows:
	(i) International Forests
	It is difficult to make exact measurements of the scale of illegal logging and estimates must be based on indirect data. The Government have therefore contributed to an international study on discrepancies in trade statistics, co-ordinated by the International Tropical Timber Organisation, as well as specific studies of the scale of illegal logging in Indonesia and NW Russia. These studies combined trade data with techniques such as remote sensing, and have also looked at the consequences of illegal logging for the economies of the countries concerned.
	The Government have also led on research to evaluate potential solutions. These studies have looked at the compliance with WTO rules of possible trade measures, the applicability of anti-money laundering legislation, and the role of improved due diligence by the financial community in evaluating forest sector investments. Studies of the impacts on markets of measures currently being implemented to tackle the problem, for example the UK's public timber procurement policy, are currently under way—and these indicate that our policies are effective, not only in changing the market here, but also in improving enforcement in timber producing countries.
	(ii) Wildlife
	The Government are committed to achieving the international biodiversity target to 'significantly reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010' which was agreed by heads of state at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002.
	The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs funds a range of forestry projects under the Darwin Initiative many of which include monitoring of forest habitat. Defra has also recently commissioned a new research project to investigate the impacts of UK consumption internationally. The first stage of the project will cover aspects of habitat destruction, including illegal logging, as part of the wider evaluation.
	(iii) Finally, in terms of measuring the impacts of illegal logging on local communities the Department for International Development (DFID) is also supporting an international research project on the impacts of illegal logging and of measures to enforce existing laws on poor people in several countries. Preliminary results indicate that, in some cases, current laws may actually discriminate against poor forest-dependent communities and legislative reform must go hand-in-hand with better enforcement.

Timber

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will increase the penalties for persons and companies convicted of importing illegally felled timber.

Elliot Morley: Currently there is no legislation in place to prohibit importing illegal timber into the UK, with the exception of unlicensed species included on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
	However, the Government anticipate that a draft EU Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Regulation, which will prohibit the entry into the EU of illegal timber products from countries that enter into Partnership Agreements with the European Union, will be finalised soon. This will allow penalties to be imposed on the import of illegal timber for the first time.

Timber

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for International Development about promoting alternatives to illegal timber felling in countries where this is prevalent.

Elliot Morley: The UK's programme to tackle illegal logging relies on close co-operation between a number of Government Departments including the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
	Recent discussions between the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Secretary of State for International Development have included, co-hosting a joint meeting of G8 Environment and Development Ministers on 17–18 March. G8 Ministers agreed a range of actions to tackle illegal logging—both through working with timber producing countries to promote alternatives to illegal timber felling and, as major timber consumers to tackle their consumption of illegally logged timber.
	The Departments also work together closely on the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) dossier. This will allow the EU to enter into agreements with poor timber producing countries providing them with assistance to tackle illegal logging. This assistance will include a licensing system designed to identify products and license them for export to the EU, which will be reinforced by powers for Customs to deny access to unlicensed products from partner countries.

Warm Front

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many households in Batley and Spen constituency have received assistance under the Warm Front Scheme in each of the last five years.

Elliot Morley: Between the launch of the Warm Front Scheme in June 2000 and the end of March 2005, the number of households assisted in each year in Batley and Spen are as follows:
	
		
			  Number of households assisted 
		
		
			 2000–01 345 
			 2001–02 713 
			 2002–03 775 
			 2003–04 538 
			 2004–05 674 
			 Total 3,045

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Overseas Aid (Corruption)

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what benchmarking information his Department requires from those countries which receive aid from the UK on their progress in (a) controlling corruption and (b) improving governance.

Hilary Benn: Progress by developing countries in improving governance and controlling corruption is central to success in eliminating poverty. It is vital that we ensure that aid funds are used for the purpose intended, and are not misused through corruption.
	Assessing overall progress on improving governance is central to our approach in allocating aid between countries, and planning our operations in each country. We draw on indices created by the World Bank and others, as well as conducting our own analysis.
	When we are considering providing aid through countries' own budgets, we conduct a comprehensive fiduciary risk assessment, which includes an assessment of the risk of corruption and of the government's commitment to improving wider governance systems. In making these assessments we draw evidence from the partner government and other sources including audit reports, Public Accounts Committee reports, national public accounts, service delivery surveys, budget execution reports, financial tracking studies, poverty expenditure tracking surveys and poverty reduction strategy progress reports. DFID is supporting the development of stronger international benchmarks on public financial management through the Public Expenditure Financial Accountability Programme (PEFA).
	Where it is not appropriate to provide resources through countries' own budgets, we may provide aid to governments in the form of projects (where DFID has greater control over procurement, expenditure and audit processes), or through non-government channels.

Overseas Aid (Corruption)

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the Answer of 13 July 2005, Official Report, column 1045W, on the UN Convention Against Corruption, whether he expects the UK will ratify the UN Convention Against Corruption by the end of 2005; what the timetable is for the ratification; what the schedule is for introducing Orders in Council under Part Eleven of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002; what consultation has taken place with the Scottish Parliament and Northern Ireland Assembly in relation to corresponding orders being produced; what the schedule is for introducing these orders; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The UK anticipates we will ratify the United Nations Convention against Corruption this year. The Department for International Development has not had any consultation with the Scottish Parliament and Northern Ireland Assembly in relation to corresponding orders as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is responsible for the overall ratification process and the Home Office is responsible for the Orders in Council in respect of Part 11 of the Proceeds of Organised Crime Act 2002.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Alcohol-related Crime

Robert Wilson: To ask the Solicitor-General how many prosecutions for alcohol-related crime have been brought in Thames Valley in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: I have been asked to reply.
	It is not possible to identify the number of prosecutions of alcohol-related crime, as the individual circumstances of the offence are not collected.

Handcuffs (Exports)

Lynne Jones: To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to the answer of 10 October 2004, Official Report, column 3W, on handcuffs (exports), what criteria the Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office used in making its decision that there should not be a prosecution.

Mike O'Brien: Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office used the criteria set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors in making its decision about prosecution in this case.
	The Code is a publicly available document, which gives guidance on general principles to be applied in determining whether cases should be prosecuted and the choice of charge.
	The Code Test has two stages. The first stage is consideration of the evidence. If the case does pass the evidential stage, prosecutors must decide if a prosecution is needed in the public interest.
	At the evidential stage prosecutors must be satisfied that there is enough evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction" against each defendant on each charge. They must consider what the defence case may be, and how that is likely to affect the prosecution case.
	A realistic prospect of conviction is an objective test. It means that a jury or bench of magistrates or judge hearing a case alone, properly directed in accordance with the law, is more likely than not to convict the defendant of the charge alleged.
	Prosecutors must consider the public interest in each case where there is enough evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction. A prosecution will usually take place unless there are public interest factors tending against prosecution which clearly outweigh those tending in favour. RCPO will only start a prosecution if a case has passed both tests.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

After-class Tutoring

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimates she has made of the percentage of (a) primary and (b) secondary school teachers who participate in after-class tutoring (i) at their school of employment and (ii) at another venue.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not held centrally.

After-class Tutoring

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which neighbourhood drop-in centres offer tutoring and homework help for primary school age children, in (a) London and (b) Kingston and Surbiton, broken down by those centres that are Government funded.

Phil Hope: The Department does not hold this information on neighbourhood drop in centres.

A-levels

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils have re-taken A-level modules (a) once and (b) more than once in each of the last five years, broken down by subject.

Jacqui Smith: The department does not hold information on the number of students re-taking modules at A Level.

Child Abuse

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidelines are available for teachers on how (a) to prevent and (b) to report child abuse; and if she will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: holding answer 24 October 2005
	My Department has issued two guidance documents for all local authority education departments, schools (including independent schools) and FE colleges in England. Safeguarding Children in Education", explains the duty, roles and responsibilities placed upon them by sections 157 and 175 of the Education Act 2002 to carry out their functions with a view to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Safeguarding Children: Safer Recruitment and Selection in Education Settings" underpins on-line training introduced in response to Sir Michael Bichard's recommendation that head teachers and school governors should receive training to ensure that the process of appointing staff reflects the importance of safeguarding children.
	Guidance on what action practitioners, including those in the education service, should take if they have concerns that a child is being, or is at risk of being, abused is contained in 'What To Do If You're Worried A Child Is Being Abused". In addition, Child Protection: Preventing Unsuitable People from Working with Children and Young Persons in the Education Service" sets out the circumstances under which people may be reported to the Secretary of State on grounds of misconduct.
	The Government take the issue of child welfare and safety very seriously. We believe we need to make safeguarding everyone's business. Encouraging all organisations to have good systems and clear guidance in place forms a vital part of this. Local and national guidance for safeguarding and promoting welfare of children is based upon the provisions set out in the Children Act 1989 and the Children Act 2004. We are currently consulting on the Government's main guidance 'Working Together to Safeguard Children" which sets out the overarching systems and roles that different agencies play in keeping children safe.

Child Abuse

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to increase public awareness of child abuse; and if she will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The Government's principal role is in increasing awareness of child abuse among people who work with children. Our guidance documents, 'Working Together to Safeguard Children' and 'What To Do If You're Worried A Child Is Being Abused' set out the roles and responsibilities of practitioners who work with children to promote children's welfare and safeguard them from harm. A range of voluntary organisations, including the NSPCC and ChildLine, play a vital role in increasing public awareness of child abuse.

Class Sizes

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the percentage of classes in key stage 1 over the statutory maximum class size of 30; what the percentage was in academic year 2004–05; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: In January 2005, 1.2 per cent. of all key stage 1 classes had more than 30 pupils in them. In January 1997 the comparable figure was 29.0 per cent. and in January 2001 it was 2.3 per cent.
	The majority of key stage 1 classes over 30 have exceeded the statutory limit to accommodate permitted exceptions, such as children who move into an area after the start of term who would have a long journey to the next school with places available. However, my officials are contacting local authorities to discuss those classes which are illegally large, to ensure that the required measures are taken to reduce them.

Class Sizes

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average class size for each primary school in Romford was in each of the past 10 years.

Jacqui Smith: The available information relating to the average for all primary school classes is shown in the table. Parliamentary constituency data are not available prior to 1997.
	
		Maintained primary schools: Average class size taught by one teacher(3)—position as at January each year: 1997 to 2005—Romford parliamentary constituency
		
			 LEA Estab. School name 1997 1998 1999 2000 
		
		
			   England 27.5 27.7 27.5 27.1 
			
			   Romford parliamentary constituency 27.7 27.6 27.8 27.6 
			
			 311 2007 Ardleigh Green Infant School 28.8 29.0 29.6 29.6 
			 311 2006 Ardleigh Green Junior School 28.2 30.0 30.0 30.2 
			 311 2038 Clockhouse Infant School 26.9 28.4 29.3 30.1 
			 311 2037 Clockhouse Junior School 28.7 27.9 28.2 27.7 
			 311 2040 Crowlands Infant School 26.1 27.4 26.8 26.4 
			 311 2039 Crowlands Junior School 24.0 26.1 24.1 23.8 
			 311 2042 Crownfield Infant School 27.1 24.9 26.3 26.4 
			 311 2041 Crownfield Junior School 27.4 30.1 24.8 28.0 
			 311 3000 Dame Tipping Church of England Primary School n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 311 2069 Gidea Park Primary School 28.8 28.0 27.6 28.5 
			 311 2045 Gobions Primary School 28.5 30.4 27.0 25.8 
			 311 2005 Harold Wood Primary School 27.2 27.2 29.1 26.8 
			 311 2063 The Manor Primary School 26.4 28.1 27.0 27.3 
			 311 2052 Mawney Infants' School 26.8 25.6 n/a n/a 
			 311 2051 Mawney Junior School 25.1 26.0 n/a n/a 
			 311 2092 The Mawney School n/a n/a 28.3 27.6 
			 311 2086 Nelmes Primary School 23.3 23.3 27.7 23.6 
			 311 2056 Parklands Infant School 28.7 28.3 29.3 30.7 
			 311 2055 Parklands Junior School 27.4 28.2 28.9 29.4 
			 311 2091 Pinewood Primary School 26.9 24.1 26.9 24.8 
			 311 2060 Rise Park Infant School 30.8 30.3 30.2 30.2 
			 311 2059 Rise Park Junior School 33.1 24.0 25.3 25.7 
			 311 2062 Squirrels Heath Infant School 27.4 27.8 28.1 29.9 
			 311 2061 Squirrels Heath Junior School 28.8 28.7 28.5 25.6 
			 311 3301 St. Edward's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School 29.6 29.2 27.9 28.1 
			 311 3503 St. Patrick's Catholic Primary School 28.0 28.5 28.5 28.6 
			 311 3507 St. Peter's Catholic Primary School 30.0 30.1 30.0 29.9 
		
	
	
		
			 LEA Estab. School name 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			   England 26.7 26.3 26.3 26.2 26.2 
			 
			   Romford Parliamentary Constituency 27.4 27.2 26.9 28.0 26.5 
			 
			 311 2007 Ardleigh Green Infant School 29.0 29.8 29.7 29.7 29.9 
			 311 2006 Ardleigh Green Junior School 30.1 29.9 29.9 29.4 29.7 
			 311 2038 Clockhouse Infant School 30.8 31.1 29.4 30.9 29.2 
			 311 2037 Clockhouse Junior School 28.3 25.9 30.0 29.5 29.1 
			 311 2040 Crowlands Infant School 26.5 27.9 28.1 28.8 27.9 
			 311 2039 Crowlands Junior School 25.9 21.8 24.3 29.1 22.6 
			 311 2042 Crownfield Infant School 25.6 25.1 26.2 28.6 26.1 
			 311 2041 Crownfield Junior School 29.0 28.0 29.3 25.3 24.9 
			 311 3000 Dame Tipping Church of England Primary School n/a 25.3 26.0 25.3 26.5 
			 311 2069 Gidea Park Primary School 29.0 22.8 21.0 28.4 20.7 
			 311 2045 Gobions Primary School 20.6 8.7 n/a n/a n/a 
			 311 2005 Harold Wood Primary School 26.7 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 311 2063 The Manor Primary School 22.8 26.9 27.5 27.0 25.4 
			 311 2052 Mawney Infants' School n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 311 2051 Mawney Junior School n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 311 2092 The Mawney School 24.1 25.5 21.4 27.6 24.2 
			 311 2086 Nelmes Primary School 24.5 26.1 23.0 25.4 24.5 
			 311 2056 Parklands Infant School 29.5 29.8 29.8 29.7 29.4 
			 311 2055 Parklands Junior School 29.3 29.6 29.6 30.3 29.8 
			 311 2091 Pinewood Primary School 25.7 30.0 25.6 23.4 26.1 
			 311 2060 Rise Park Infant School 29.7 29.7 29.7 29.8 27.8 
			 311 2059 Rise Park Junior School 28.4 23.3 24.3 31.9 24.8 
			 311 2062 Squirrels Heath Infant School 29.0 27.7 27.0 27.1 25.4 
			 311 2061 Squirrels Heath Junior School 25.8 27.9 27.5 27.1 25.2 
			 311 3301 St. Edward's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School 29.2 29.0 26.8 27.1 27.3 
			 311 3503 St. Patrick's Catholic Primary School 28.9 28.4 28.5 27.7 27.6 
			 311 3507 St. Peter's Catholic Primary School 29.1 28.7 29.1 28.7 28.3 
		
	
	n/a = not applicable.
	(3) Classes as taught during a single selected period in each school on the day of the census in January.
	Source:
	Annual Schools' Census.

Cricket

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps the Government are taking to encourage the playing of cricket in state schools.

Jacqui Smith: The Government are committed to increasing the amount of physical education and sport in schools. This includes competitive team games such as cricket.
	Cricket may be taught to pupils in schools as part of the programme of study for games activities within National Curriculum PE. Games activities must be taught to all pupils in key stages 1–3 (age 5–14) and are optional at key stage 4 (age 14–16).
	We have made cricket one of 22 key sports within the School Club Links workstrand of our National Strategy for PE and School Sport. This workstrand seeks to enhance existing, and create new, links between schools and sports clubs, and to increase the number of school children being guided into National Governing Body affiliated sports clubs.
	The 2004/05 PE and School Sport Survey of schools in School Sport Partnerships found that cricket was the second most popular sport (behind football) for which schools had formal links with sports clubs, with 46 per cent. of schools having links with a local cricket club. The survey also found that 85 per cent. of schools provided cricket for their pupils, either in lesson time or after school. This was the sixth most popular sport provided in schools. Copies of the results of the survey have been placed in the House Libraries.

Educational Attainment

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what initiatives her Department has launched to raise attainment in deprived areas; what the cost has been of such initiatives; and what evaluation she has made of their effectiveness.

Jacqui Smith: The Government's principal initiatives to raise attainment in deprived areas have been Excellence in Cities (EiC), Education Action Zones (EAZ), the Leadership Incentive Grant (LIG) and the London Challenge (LC). These initiatives provide additional funding for schools serving deprived communities. The total costs are provided in table 1.
	
		Table 1: Cost of programmes -- £ million
		
			  EiC EAZ LIG LC 
		
		
			 1989–99 — 7.6 — — 
			 1999–2000 26.9 22.2 — — 
			 2000–01 114.5 52.0 — — 
			 2001–02 253.0 59.0 — — 
			 2002–03 243.4 58.6 — — 
			 2003–04 278.2 53.8 175.4 16.0 
			 2004–05 309.2 36.2 195.6 22.1 
			 2005–06 374.5 — 202.5 22.4 
		
	
	Table 2 indicates the effectiveness of each programme in terms of increases in the percentage of pupils gaining five or more GCSEs at grade C and above. The year by year increases in schools in receipt of the various initiatives has always been above the national average trend. More formal evaluation of the initiatives is in progress, and will be published in due course.
	
		Table 2: Percentage of pupils gaining 5+ GCSEs/GNVQs at grades A*-C, by initiative
		
			  EiC(4) EAZ LIG LC(5) England(6) 
		
		
			 1999 36.3 29.1 — — 45.7 
			 2000 37.8 29.6 — — 47.0 
			 2001 39.8 31.1 — — 47.9 
			 2002 41.9 33.8 — 48.5 49.5 
			 2003 44.4 36.3 42.1 50.7 51.1 
			 2004 46.4 39.9 43.7 53.0 52.0 
			 Cumulative +10.1 +10.8 +1.6 +4.5 +6.3 
		
	
	(4) Schools in EiC partnerships.
	(5) All London secondary schools.
	(6) All maintained schools.

Faith Schools

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what mechanisms are used to monitor (a) the level of contact and (b) the outcomes of contact between faith schools and schools which do not select on the grounds of faith; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: Ofsted evaluates children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development in school, and the effectiveness of links with other providers, as part of each school's inspection. We encourage faith schools to work with non-faith schools, and with schools of other faiths. Working with the faiths involved in running maintained schools we have published examples of good practice on www.teachernet.gov.uk/faithschools.

Geography Training

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the adequacy of training in geography given to primary school teachers.

Jacqui Smith: Earlier this year a working group of the Geography Focus Group looked at Initial Teacher Training and Continuing Professional Development in relation to geography. The focus group will report its recommendations in November. For further information on the focus group, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 21 October 2005, Official Report, column 1266W.

Gifted Pupils

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the expected cost of weekend masterclasses is for gifted pupils; and whether the teachers who will lead them will be paid an overtime wage.

Jacqui Smith: There are no plans to introduce a new national programme of weekend masterclasses for gifted pupils, though some are already available, including those brokered through the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth for its members and we encourage schools to arrange such support where that will be an effective way to cater for their gifted and talented pupils. The cost of a masterclass will vary depending on who runs it, how many learners it caters for, the nature of the activity involved and whether a charge is levied. Where appropriate, payments may be made for substantial or regular commitment to activities outside a teacher's directed time, including those taking place at weekends.

Grandparents (Caring)

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance is available to grandparents who permanently care for their grandchildren on the different legal arrangements under which they can apply for care.

Maria Eagle: In 2004 the Department for Education and Skills issued a Fostering Publicity Pack to local authorities. The pack included a leaflet for local authorities to use with those caring for a relative's child. This gave some information on the law and on support available to carers.
	The Department for Education and Skills has not issued comprehensive guidance to grandparents on the different legal arrangements under which they may permanently care for their grandchildren. However, a summary of the legal arrangements under which family members and friends may care for a child who cannot live with their parents will be included on the Every Child Matters website before Christmas.
	A number of voluntary organisations also provide advice and support to grandparents.

Key Stage Tests

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what percentage of primary school pupils achieved level 4 and above at Key Stage 2 in (a) reading, (b) writing, (c) mathematics and (d) reading, writing and mathematics combined in 2004;
	(2)  what percentage of primary school pupils achieved level 4 and above at Key Stage 2 in reading, writing and mathematics combined in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003;
	(3)  what percentage of primary school pupils have achieved level 4 and above at Key Stage 2 in (a) reading, (b) writing, (c) mathematics and (d) reading, writing and mathematics combined in each year since 1996.

Jacqui Smith: This information is available on the Department's website. The information on the proportion achieving level 4 in all of reading, writing and mathematics is available at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000611/index.shtml. Information on the proportion achieving level 4 in reading writing and mathematics separately is available at:
	For 2005—http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000595/index.shtml
	For 2002–04—http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000581/index.shtml
	For 1999–2001—http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SBU/b000333/index.shtml
	For 1996–98—http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SBU/b000053/index.shtml

Korean Studies

John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will take steps to ensure that Korean studies continues to be available at universities; and if she will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Higher education institutions are autonomous organisations responsible for their own academic direction and provision of courses in the light of student demand. Within that framework, we asked the Higher Education Funding Council for England for advice on how to secure and strengthen subjects of strategic national importance. After considering the views of the higher education sector and others with an interest, including those who have made representations on behalf of Korean studies, we will be responding formally to that advice shortly and a copy of that response will be placed in the Library.

London Skills Partnership

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the main achievements of the London Skills Partnership.

Bill Rammell: Regional Skills Partnerships (RSPs), bringing together the Regional Development Agencies, the Learning and Skills Council, the Small Business Service, the Skills for Business Network, Jobcentre Plus and others, are in place in all the English regions.
	The RSP for London is the London Skills Commission which brings together the main planning, funding and delivery organisations responsible for skills, employment and business support in the capital. Over the last three years, the Commission has established a regional framework for directing and influencing major spending plans and for galvanising new projects to meet the needs of London.
	Government will continue to work closely with the Commission to ensure that it has the flexibility it needs to plan and deliver skills, employer and business support in a way that meets the needs of people who live and work in London.
	Further details of the Commission's plans and activities for 2005–06 are included in the Commission's Prospectus and Action Plan which I have placed in the House Libraries.

Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her estimate is of the savings to the Exchequer of introducing a pension scheme retirement age of 65 years for all teachers and educational employees in the public sector from 2025; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: Delaying to 2025 the introduction of a normal pension age (NPA) of 65 for members of the Teachers' Pensions Scheme would not reflect Government policy or be consistent with the principles agreed at the Public Services Forum. Those principles provide for NPA 65 to be introduced for new entrants as soon as practicable; and the pension terms of existing members to be discussed in scheme specific negotiations. The estimated net present value of the savings arising from reform of the public service schemes is expected to be around £13 billion over the next 50 years.
	Savings to the Exchequer from introducing NPA 65 from 2025 have not been estimated and could be done only at disproportionate cost. It is, however, likely that delaying the introduction of NPA 65 until 2025 would absorb a substantial part of the expected £13 billion savings that will arise from the implementation of scheme reform within the framework of the principles agreed at the Public Services Forum.

Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the effective rate of employer contributions is to final salary pension schemes for teachers in the public sector.

Jacqui Smith: The standard contribution rate for the Teachers' Pension Scheme is currently 19.5 per cent. of salary. Of this, the employer pays 13.5 per cent. and the employee pays 6 per cent. The contribution rate is set following each valuation of the scheme. I am expecting to receive the Government Actuary's report on the current scheme valuation early in the new year.

Pupil Absences

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress has been made in reaching an agreement with travel companies on reducing the cost to families of holidays during school holiday periods to cut pupil absences in term-time; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The Government are joining forces with the travel industry in a new campaign to encourage parents to book holidays during school holiday periods. Launching in November the Every Lesson Counts" campaign will see the travel industry offer discounts and other incentives, such as free child places, to families making early bookings for the school holiday periods. Early booking holiday deals will be promoted through a dedicated Every Lesson Counts" website which will provide a link to ABTA, Federation of Tour Operators and Visit Britain/Enjoy England sites where their members will be able to provide details of their offers for breaks—both in England and overseas—for the winter season and summer 2006.
	We recognise that supply and demand can lead to price differences in periods of peak demand. This is why we have struck this innovative partnership with the travel industry to remind parents that by booking early, families will have more choice, more opportunity to book affordable holidays and more reason to keep their children in school.

Schools

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many school places will be created as a consequence of the allocations of the Targeted Capital Fund announced on 12 October 2005; and how many of these will (a) meet existing demand and (b) create additional capacity for parental choice.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 18 October 2005
	Information is not available in the form requested. Capital support for new pupil places is largely allocated to local authorities by formula through the Single Capital Pot. Allocations up to 2007–08 were announced last November, together with other formulaic allocations, relating to modernisation need and the schools access initiative, waves 2 and 3 of Building Schools for the Future, and Targeted Capital projects for 2005–06. Local authorities decide how their formulaic allocations should be joined-up and invested locally, taking account of the priorities identified in their asset management plans.
	The Targeted Capital Fund, for which successful projects for 2006–07 and 2007–08 were announced on 12 October, is primarily a competitive bidding round for standards and buildings related projects. However, it does have other elements to it. One of these is a mechanism which allows authorities to apply for additional top-up funding for new pupil places where they can demonstrate that they face exceptional circumstances and that their overall resources are insufficient to meet their needs.

Schools

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 19 October 2005, Official Report, column 1072W when each school went into special measures; and whether she intends to make use of her powers under the Education Act 2005 to intervene in the running of each school.

Jacqui Smith: The date when each school went into special measures is set out in the following table. The Secretary of State considers the use of her intervention powers in the light of the circumstances of each school. A number of the schools have been subject to radical action following LA proposals approved by the Secretary of State. The schools White Paper will look at options for turning round these schools more quickly.
	
		Schools in special measures for more than one year—October 2005
		
			 URN School Local authority Phase Date into special measures 
		
		
			 101240 The Warren Comprehensive Barking and Dagenham Sec 13 May 2004 
			 101267 Clitterhouse Junior School Barnet Prim 03 February 2004 
			 101285 Hollickwood Primary School Barnet Prim 20 July 2004 
			 101360 St Mary's CE High School Barnet Sec 22 October 2003 
			 101365 Bishop Douglass School Finchley Barnet Sec 13 November 2003 
			 106583 Sandhill Primary School Barnsley Prim 08 June 2004 
			 106647 Elmhirst School, The Barnsley Sec 21 April 2004 
			 109747 Oak Bank School Bedfordshire Spec 24 September 2004 
			 103260 Oldknow Junior School Birmingham Prim 08 June 2004 
			 103365 Highters Heath Primary School Birmingham Prim 16 June 2004 
			 119754 Darwen Moorland High School Blackburn Sec 20 November 2003 
			 133291 Boundary Community Primary School Blackpool Prim 07 November 2002 
			 107228 Usher Street Primary School and Nursery Bradford Prim 10 July 2003 
			 107312 Windhill CE Primary School Bradford Prim 11 February 2004 
			 107364 Rhodesway School Bradford Sec 18 December 2002 
			 132219 Immanuel C of E Community College Bradford Sec 21 January 2004 
			 107363 Wyke Manor School Bradford Sec 10 May 2004 
			 107468 Wedgwood School and Community Nursery Bradford Spec 12 October 2004 
			 101536 St Andrew and St Francis C of E Primary School Brent Prim 21 April 2004 
			 109275 Portway Community School Bristol Sec 14 November 2004 
			 109276 Hengrove School Bristol Sec 14 November 2003 
			 107532 Mount Pellon Junior and Infant School Calderdale Prim 21 April 2004 
			 111800 St Ives Junior School Cornwall Prim 15 February 2003 
			 112006 St Meriadoc C of E Junior School Cornwall Prim 21 April 2004 
			 111922 Robartes Junior School Cornwall Prim 24 June 2004 
			 101782 Tollgate Primary School Croydon Prim 14 January 2004 
			 101746 Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School Croydon Prim 30 July 2004 
			 112241 Morton Park Primary School Cumbria Prim 12 November 2003 
			 112387 Wyndham School Cumbria Sec 02 March 2004 
			 112723 Moorhead Primary School Derby Prim 08 October 2003 
			 112988 Merrill College Derby Sec 25 September 2003 
			 132133 Derby City PRU Derby PRU 30 July 2004 
			 113130 East-the-Water Community Primary School Devon Prim 25 September 2003 
			 106669 Adwick Park Junior School Doncaster Prim 28 January 2004 
			 106783 Northcliffe School Doncaster Sec 27 November 2003 
			 113715 Portland Tophill Junior School Dorset Prim 30 July 2004 
			 103880 The Old Park School Dudley Spec 26 April 2004 
			 117976 Flamborough Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School East Riding Prim 14 January 2004 
			 133679 Rawcliffe Pupil Referral Unit East Riding PRU 11 February 2004 
			 114589 Seaford Head Community College East Sussex Sec 29 January 2004 
			 115066 Holy Trinity C of E VC Primary School Essex Prim 19 December 2002 
			 115036 Templars Infant and Nursery School Essex Prim 04 November 2003 
			 114811 Vange Primary School and Nursery Essex Prim 12 November 2003 
			 114729 Langenhoe Community Primary School Essex Prim 27 November 2003 
			 115275 Ashingdon School Essex Prim 04 March 2004 
			 115214 St Peter's High School and Technology College Essex Sec 03 October 2003 
			 115475 Lexden Springs School Essex Spec 20 July 2004 
			 115819 Sandford School Gloucestershire Spec 12 February 2004 
			 100181 Bishop John Robinson CE Primary School Greenwich Prim 22 September 2004 
			 100263 Holy Trinity CE Primary School Hackney Prim 30 September 2004 
			 132825 Halton High School Halton Sec 12 July 2004 
			 100361 Hurlingham and Chelsea Secondary School Hammersmith and Fulham Sec 04 March 2004 
			 100362 Burlington Danes C of E School Hammersmith and Fulham Sec 25 May 2004 
			 116449 Oak Farm Community School Hampshire Sec 04 March 2004 
			 132252 Downhills Primary School Haringey Prim 02 December 2002 
			 102188 Little Stanmore Nursery, First and Middle School Harrow Prim 22 July 2004 
			 111599 Owton Manor Primary School Hartlepool Prim 21 June 2004 
			 102347 King's Wood School Havering Sec 30 April 2004 
			 116952 Weobley High School Herefordshire Sec 08 June 2004 
			 117533 Collenswood School Hertfordshire Sec 26 November 2005 
			 102449 Abbotsfield School for Boys Hillingdon Sec 07 January 2003 
			 118264 Lawn Primary School Kent Prim 03 April 2000 
			 118534 Bromstone Primary School, Broadstairs Kent Prim 20 November 2003 
			 118355 Homewood Infant School Kent Prim 07 July 2004 
			 118383 George Spurgen Community Primary School Kent Prim 12 July 2004 
			 118260 Whitehill Junior School Kent Prim 22 July 2004 
			 133663 St Mary of Charity CE (Aided) Primary School Kent Prim 22 July 2004 
			 118889 Minster College Kent Sec 05 December 2003 
			 133422 Endeavour High School Kingston Upon Hull Sec 26 March 2004 
			 107626 Birkby Junior School Kirklees Prim 26 March 2003 
			 107620 Rawthorpe Junior School Kirklees Prim 29 April 2004 
			 107756 Rawthorpe High School Kirklees Sec 28 March 2003 
			 133673 ETHOS Primary Pupil Referral Unit Kirklees PRU 10 June 2004 
			 119710 Skerton Community High School Lancashire Sec 13 November 2003 
			 108070 Intake High School Arts College Leeds Sec 29 April 2004 
			 119998 Queensmead Junior School Leicester City Prim 12 November 2002 
			 131945 New College Leicester Leicester City Sec 09 December 2003 
			 120566 St Peter and St Paul Church of England Primary School, Burgh-Le-Marsh, The Lincolnshire Prim 24 June 2003 
			 120502 Sutton Bridge Westmere Community Primary School Lincolnshire Prim 24 February 2004 
			 120550 The Pinchbeck East Church of England Primary School Lincolnshire Prim 30 July 2004 
			 109707 Ashcroft High School Luton Sec 19 November 2003 
			 109685 Putteridge High School Luton Sec 04 March 2004 
			 105614 Meade Hill School Manchester Spec 10 March 2004 
			 118556 Warren Wood Community Primary School and Language Unit Medway Prim 11 February 2004 
			 132166 Mitcham Vale High School Merton Sec 02 July 2004 
			 110532 The Radcliffe School Milton Keynes Sec 20 November 2003 
			 121140 Gillingham, St Michael's C of E Voluntary Aided First School Norfolk Prim 11 May 2004 
			 133432 Silverdale School North Tyneside Spec 06 March 2003 
			 122074 Duston Upper School Northamptonshire Sec 18 September 2003 
			 122154 The Orchard School Northamptonshire Spec 10 March 2004 
			 133267 Sherwood Hall School and Sixth Form College Nottinghamshire Sec 21 March 2003 
			 122848 The Gedling School Nottinghamshire Sec 13 November 2003 
			 105717 East Crompton St George's C of E School Oldham Prim 21 April 2004 
			 105755 Hardman Fold Community Special School Oldham Spec 28 April 2004 
			 123346 Northfield School Oxfordshire Spec 26 April 2004 
			 113277 Knowle Primary School Plymouth Prim 19 November 2003 
			 133940 Redbridge Junior School Redbridge Prim 16 August 2004 
			 102859 Hainault Forest High School Redbridge Sec 21 November 2003 
			 105788 Moorhouse Primary School Rochdale Prim 12 February 2004 
			 105784 Bullough Moor Primary School Rochdale Prim 25 February 2004 
			 106951 Wingfield Comprehensive School Rotherham Sec 30 March 2004 
			 133351 Harrop Fold School Salford Sec 24 June 2003 
			 105977 Moorside High School Salford Sec 23 March 2004 
			 132090 The Albion High School Salford Sec 20 September 2004 
			 106011 Irwell Park High School Salford Spec 30 April 2003 
			 103984 Rood End Primary School Sandwell Prim 02 October 2003 
			 103978 Langley Primary School Sandwell Prim 05 November 2003 
			 107014 Shirecliffe Junior School Sheffield Prim 08 October 2003 
			 110077 Langleywood School Slough Sec 06 November 2003 
			 123687 Middlezoy Primary School Somerset Prim 22 July 2004 
			 109045 Severn Beach Primary School South Gloucestershire Prim 25 November 2003 
			 115346 Thorpe Bay School Southend Sec 10 June 1999 
			 115234 Prittlewell Technology College Southend Sec 16 June 2004 
			 100809 Robert Browning Primary School Southwark Prim 27 February 2003 
			 100788 Galleywall Primary School Southwark Prim 04 March 2003 
			 100782 Cobourg Primary School Southwark Prim 08 June 2004 
			 104828 Newton-le-Willows Community High School St Helens Sec 15 January 2004 
			 124176 Amington Heath Community School Staffordshire Prim 15 October 2003 
			 124215 Springhill Primary School Staffordshire Prim 12 February 2004 
			 124409 Nether Stowe High School Staffordshire Sec 17 February 2004 
			 124854 Kirkley Middle (Sec) School Suffolk Middle 24 June 2003 
			 125063 Watchetts Junior School Surrey Prim 02 December 2003 
			 125161 Potters Gate C of E Primary School Surrey Prim 24 June 2004 
			 125266 Bishop David Brown School, The Surrey Sec 25 November 2003 
			 126242 Seven Fields Primary School Swindon Prim 26 February 2004 
			 106235 Micklehurst All Saints C of E Primary School Tameside Prim 02 April 2003 
			 106370 Stretford High School Community Language College Trafford Sec 22 January 2004 
			 103040 Church Mead Junior School Waltham Forest Prim 01 October 2004 
			 111433 Woolston Community High School Warrington Sec 12 March 2004 
			 133572 Horizon Centre Warrington PRU 24 February 2004 
			 125706 St Francis Catholic Primary School Warwickshire Prim 29 July 2004 
			 125768 Queen Elizabeth School Warwickshire Sec 05 February 2004 
			 125766 Hartshill School Warwickshire Sec 21 April 2004 
			 106548 Two Porches School Wigan Spec 07 June 2004 
			 126399 Corsley CE Primary School Wiltshire Prim 05 July 2004 
			 116776 Leigh and Bransford Primary School Worcestershire Prim 06 August 2004 
			 116928 North Bromsgrove High School Worcestershire Sec 04 February 2003 
			 131491 Redgrove School Worcestershire Spec 16 June 2004 
			 130993 Kidderminster PRU Worcestershire PRU 29 July 2004 
			 116958 Bromsgrove, Catshill Middle (Sec) School Worcestershire Middle 22 October 2003

Schools

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) knives, (b) guns and (c) other weapons were confiscated from schools in England in each of the last 10 years.

Jacqui Smith: My Department does not collect the number or nature of confiscated items taken from school pupils. The Violent Crime Reduction Bill proposes to give head teachers a power to search for weapons, and we will add to existing guidance on how police, schools and other local agencies can work together, to keep offensive weapons out of our schools.

Schools

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress has been made on implementing the recommendations of the School Meals Review Panel.

Jacqui Smith: The recommendations of the School Meals Review Panel are made in their report—Turning the Tables: Transforming School Food.
	A public consultation on the Panel's recommendations to improve the nutritional standards of school meals was launched on 3 October 2005. The consultation period runs until 31 December 2005 and responses to the recommendations will be considered after this date.
	The final version of the standards will begin to come into force from September 2006.
	Alongside the publication of the report, the Government launched a national audit of school food provision in order to assess the progress that is already being made by local authorities and schools. The national audit, which began on 17 October, will cover issues such as how much is being spent on school meals ingredients, how they are provided, whether children get hot or cold meals and the percentage of pupils currently buying school meals.
	The Government are also investing £220 million over three years to help schools and local education authorities transform school meals through training and increased hours for cooks, equipment and a minimum spend on ingredients.
	Some £30 million for this year has already been allocated to local authorities—with a further £100 million over the following two years. £30 million was granted direct to schools as part of their Standards Fund allocations, with a further £60 million over the following two years.
	New or upgraded school kitchen facilities, where fresh produce can be prepared and served, will be made a priority as Government rebuilds and refurbishes every secondary school through its Building Schools for the Future programme. £5.5 billion is being spent in 2005–06 rising to £6.3 billion in 2007–08 to improve school buildings. An extra £650 million capital for primary schools were announced in the last Spending Review for 2008–09 and 2009–10.

SEN

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of its total budget was spent by Lancashire local education authority on special needs education in each of the last 10 years.

Maria Eagle: The information requested is only available from 2000–01 onwards and is contained within the following table:
	
		
			  Budgeted net expenditure on the provision of education for children with special educational needs(7)(5508220008) (£) Total education revenue expenditure(9)(£) Budgeted net expenditure on the provision of education for children with SEN as a percentage of total education revenue expenditure 
		
		
			 2000–01 79,766,000 511,182,000 15.6 
			 2001–02 82,826.000 543,019,000 15.3 
			 2002–03 86,666,000 569,835,000 15.2 
			 2003–04 99,347,000 608,216,000 16.3 
			 2004–05 106,320,000 641,611,000 16.6 
			 2005–06(10) 109,113,000 702,069,000 15.5 
		
	
	(7) Includes planned expenditure on the provision for pupils with statements and the provision for non-statemented pupils with SEN, support for inclusion, inter authority recoupment, fees for pupils at independent special schools and abroad, educational psychology service, local authority functions in relation to child protection, therapies and other health related services, parent partnership, guidance and information, the monitoring of SEN provision and inclusion administration, assessment and co-ordination. Also included is the funding delegated to nursery, primary and secondary schools identified as notional SEN" and the individual schools budget (ISB) for special schools.
	(8) The ISB for special schools will include some general education costs for pupils with SEN in addition to those costs specifically for SEN while the figures recorded against notional SEN" are only indicative of the amount that might be spent by schools on SEN. In 2005–06, Lancashire also budgeted £13.2 million for SEN transport expenditure but this is not included in the budgeted net expenditure on SEN as figures are not available prior to 2005–06.
	(9) Total education revenue expenditure is the combination of the total schools budget and the total local authority budget
	(10) Section 52 Budget 2005–06 data is provisional and is subject to change by the local authority.
	Note:
	Cash terms figures are as reported by the LEA and are rounded to the nearest thousand pounds and may not sum due to rounding.

Teachers

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many secondary school teachers have (a) a first class, (b) an upper second, (c) a lower second, (d) a third class degree and (e) no degree.

Jacqui Smith: The following table provides degree class information for full-time regular teachers in service in maintained secondary schools in 2003, the latest information available. For comparison, the degree class of those teachers qualifying during 2002 is also provided.
	
		Percentage of full-time teachers in secondary school service in 2003 by class of degree held and year of qualification
		
			  Year of qualification 
			 Class of degree All years 2002 
		
		
			 1st honours 4.1 5.7 
			 2nd honours(11) 75.9 79.7 
			 3rd and unclassified honours 6.0 4.0 
			 Pass/other(12) 12.6 10.2 
			 No degree recorded(13) 1.5 0.5 
			 Total 100 100 
		
	
	(11) Information for 2nd class honours degrees cannot be split into 2:1 or 2:2 categories.
	(12) Includes degrees obtained outside of the UK, teachers whose degree class is not recorded, teachers with other graduate equivalent qualifications and a small number of teachers with higher degrees where the class of their first degree is unknown.
	(13) Includes teachers obtaining qualified teacher status through a Certificate of Education. Some of these teachers may have gained degree level qualifications after entering teaching but no details of these qualifications are available.
	Source:
	Database of Teachers Records.

TRANSPORT

A303 Improvements

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the options for improvements to the A303 past Stonehenge.

Stephen Ladyman: Options for improvements to the A303 past Stonehenge will be considered in the review of options which we announced in July. We expect to announce the terms of reference for the review shortly.

A5 Closure

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons a stretch of the A5 was closed on Sunday 18 September; on whose authority the road was closed; for what period of time it was closed; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: There were no incidents reported on the A5 resulting in closure but there were planned works on two sections of the A5 trunk road that weekend.
	On 11 September, the Highways Agency started major reconstruction and resurfacing works on the A5 at its junction with the B4036 at Long Buckby Northampton. This involved full closure of the A5 on two successive weekends between 16 and 19 September and between 23 and 26 September. The closures operated between 21:00hrs on Friday and 06:00hrs on Monday.
	There were also overnight closures on the westbound carriageway of the A5 near the Motor Institution Research Agency, in Nuneaton. On the weekend identified the closures operated between 20:00hrs and 06:00hrs on Saturday 17 September and on Sunday 18 September. The road reopened to traffic at 06:00hrs on Monday 19 September.
	The A5 was closed on each occasion by means of a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order issued under the authority of the Secretary Of State for Transport. These closures were necessary to comply with the Health and Safety requirement, as the width of the carriageway is insufficient to provide adequate safety zones for the workforce while traffic is flowing.
	Signed diversion routes were provided on both occasions.

Airlines (Subsidies)

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) airlines and (b) routes in the United Kingdom receive public service obligation subsidies.

Karen Buck: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer of 20 October 2005, Official Report, column 1159W.

Blue Badges

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to publish proposals on altering the criteria for eligibility for blue badges.

Karen Buck: We are working on a number of proposals to extend eligibility for blue badges (including extending the scheme to children under the age of two and people with temporary disabilities). These will require changes to regulations and we will consult on a draft regulatory package later this year.

Conferences and Seminars

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the conferences and seminars that his Department organised between 1 September 2004 and 28 July 2005, broken down by (a) cost and (b) purpose.

Karen Buck: The Department communicates where appropriate with organisations through seminars, workshops and exhibitions and holds internal events in the course of normal management. Records of these events are not held centrally, and details for the period September 2004 to July 2005 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Crossrail

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport over what period Crossrail was expected to make a return on its outlays at the original cost estimate; and what the current estimated period is for covering costs.

Derek Twigg: Information on the economic assessment of Crossrail is available on the Crossrail website at www.crossrail.co.uk. The costs used within the assessment are consistent with the estimate of 10.292 million (quarter 1 2002 prices) contained in the parliamentary estimate of expense submitted with the Crossrail hybrid Bill.

Cycle Lanes

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of new cycle lanes have been provided using public funds in Southend since 1997.

Derek Twigg: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 18 October 2005, Official Report, columns 88687W to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker), which provided details of the number of cycle lanes built by all local highway authorities since we started to collect these figures in 200102. The information for Southend is however set out in the following table for ease of reference.
	
		Highway authoritySouthend
		
			  Number Kilometres 
		
		
			 Government office region = GO-E  
			 200102 (14) (14) 
			 200203 1 1 
			 200304 1 2 
		
	
	(14) This indicates that no data has been supplied, while 0 indicates a figure between 0 and 0.44km for cycle lanes.

Cycling Accidents

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many injuries have been experienced by pedestrians as a result of accidents with cyclists in the last three years.

Stephen Ladyman: The number of pedestrians injured in collision with a pedal cycle is given in the table.
	
		Number of pedestrian casualties hit by a pedal cyclist
		
			  Pedestrian casualties 
		
		
			 2002 209 
			 2003 259 
			 2004 236

Departmental Finance

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the latest estimate is of underspend by his Department (a) in cash terms and (b) as a percentage of departmental budget for financial year 200405.

Karen Buck: Provisional outturn against final Departmental Expenditure Limits is set out in Tables 1 and 1A of Public Expenditure 200405: Provisional Outturn (Cm 6639).

Departmental NDPBs

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those of his Department's advisory non-departmental public bodies which the Government are required (a) to consult prior to legislative proposals and (b) to publish their response to advice from.

Karen Buck: Details of the Department for Transport's advisory non-departmental public bodies can be found on the Cabinet Office's Public Bodies Directory at: http://www.knowledgenetwork.gov.uk/ndpb/ndpb.nsf.
	(a) The Government are required to consult the Disabled Persons' Transport Advisory Committee in respect of certain provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (as amended by the DDA 2005).
	(b) The Government are currently not required to publish the Disabled Persons' Transport Advisory Committee's advice. However, from 5 December 2005 the Secretary of State will be required to produce an annual report covering exemptions from the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations which must include details of the consultation carried out under sections 47(3) and 67A(1) of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (as amended), including consultation with the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee. In the meantime details of DPTAC's responses to consultations on exemptions are published on the Department's website.

Departmental NDPBs

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department have a statutory base; which (a) publish their advice to Government, (b) publish an annual report and (c) lay an annual report before Parliament; and whether it is under a statutory requirement in each case.

Karen Buck: Details of the Department for Transport's advisory non-departmental public bodies can be found on the Cabinet Office's Public Bodies Directory at: http://www.knowledgenetwork.gov.uk/ndpb/ndpb.nsf
	(a) The Disabled Persons' Transport Advisory Committee publishes some of its advice to Government, but this is not a statutory requirement. What is not published is available on request. The publication scheme setting this out is at http://www.dptac.gov.uk/foi/index.htm.
	(b) The Disabled Persons' Transport Advisory Committee has a statutory duty under the Transport Act 1985 to submit an annual report to the Secretary of State. The Committee also publishes this report for general circulation.
	(c) The Secretary of State is required under the Transport Act 1985 to lay the Disabled Persons' Transport Advisory Committee's annual report before Parliament.

Departmental NDPBs

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department (a) hold public meetings, (b) conduct public consultation exercises, (c) conduct consultation exercises with outside commercial interests, (d) publish a register of members' interests, (e) publish agendas for meetings and (f) publish the minutes of meetings; and whether it is under a statutory requirement in each case.

Karen Buck: Details of the Department for Transport's advisory non-departmental public bodies can be found on the Cabinet Office's Public Bodies Directory at: http://www.knowledgenetwork.gov.uk/ndpb/ndpb.nsf
	(a) The Disabled Persons' Transport Advisory Committee has held public meetings in the past, but this is not a statutory requirement.
	(b) The Disabled Persons' Transport Advisory Committee has conducted public consultation exercises in the past, but this is not a statutory requirement.
	(c) The Disabled Persons' Transport Advisory Committee does consult stakeholders in the transport sector including organisations with commercial interests.
	The Commission for Integrated Transport also consults stakeholders in the transport sector as a part of its research programme; on occasion this includes organisations with commercial interests. This is not a statutory requirement.
	(d) The Disabled Persons' Transport Advisory Committee has a register of Members' interests, but this is not a statutory requirement. The register of Members' interests is not published and is available from the Secretariat on request.
	The Commission for Integrated Transport publishes a register of members' interests in its annual report, but this is not a statutory requirement.
	(e) The Disabled Persons' Transport Advisory Committee does not publish agendas for meetings.
	The Commission for Integrated Transport publishes agendas for its plenary meetings, but this is not a statutory requirement.
	(f) The Disabled Persons' Transport Advisory Committee publishes minutes of Main Committee meetings on its website at http://www.dptac.gov.uk/about.htm#minutes, but this is not a statutory requirement. Minutes of other meetings may in some cases be available under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
	The Commission for Integrated Transport publishes minutes of its plenary meetings, but this is not a statutory requirement.

Departmental Staff

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the rates of employee absence in his Department have been in each year since 1997.

Karen Buck: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 20 July 2005, Official Report, column 1802W.

Departmental Websites

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 11 October 2005, Official Report, column 427W, on departmental websites, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the www.transportdirect.info website; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Transport Direct brings together in a single site transport data from a variety of sources including National Rail, National Express, local bus companies, local authorities, airlines and OS mapping and road data. It is the first site to do this and now draws on over 100 individual data sources in order to offer travellers effective transport choices to meet their travel needs.
	Rigorous testing of the site and its data is carried out on a monthly basis. Results from September showed that 98 per cent. of journeys tested provided accurate and reliable answers. Prompt action is taken to correct any errors or omissions discovered.
	Transport Direct has now delivered over 2 million user sessions. On-line feedback from users shows that 93 per cent. are satisfied and would use the site again.

EU Aviation and Emissions Trading Conference

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library (a) copies of all papers circulated at and (b) the final declaration of the conference convened by the UK presidency of the European Union on Aviation and Emissions Trading held on 26 to 27 September.

Karen Buck: The conference was an informal event aimed at bringing together Transport and Environment officials from across Europe to discuss aviation and climate change. It provided an opportunity to update people on the work done by the European Commission to date and consider the current scientific understanding of aviation's impact on climate change.
	In advance of the conference delegates were sent an electronic copy of the European Commission's feasibility study on including aviation in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme: Giving Emissions Trading Wings by CE Delft (2005). This report is freely available from the European Commission's website at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/climat/aviation_en.htm
	As the conference was not an official UK presidency event, there was no final declaration; however, conclusions from the conference were drawn. Copies of these will be placed in the House Library alongside copies of the programme for the event and the CE Delft report.

EU Directives

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the Answer of 25 May 2005, Official Report, column 127W, on EU discussions, if he will make a statement on measures to be introduced under the planned Directive on driving licences.

Stephen Ladyman: The proposed Directive on driving licences was discussed at the Transport Council on 27 June but no agreement was reached. However, informal indications from both the European Parliament and the member states remain generally favourable to the proposal in its entirety. It is the Government's intention to seek political agreement from Ministers at the 5 December Transport Council.

European Council Regulation 2407/92

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many applications were approved for a waiver under Article 8.3 of the European Council Regulation 2407/92 between 1 January 2001 and 1 May 2005; to whom they were issued; and by whom the Government have been approached for a waiver under the same scheme since 1 January.

Karen Buck: Between 1 January 2001 and 1 May 2005 the Secretary of State granted waivers under Article 8.3 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2407/92 to UK airlines as set out in the following table:
	
		
			 UK airline Approvals 
		
		
			 Aeromega Helicopters 4 
			 Air 2000 12 
			 Air Atlanta Europe 16 
			 Air Cordial 2 
			 Air Kilroe 12 
			 Air Wales 6 
			 Airtours International Airways 15 
			 Astraeus 17 
			 Atlantic Airlines 12 
			 Aurigny Air Services 8 
			 BAC Express Airlines 11 
			 BMI Regional 10 
			 Britannia Airways 33 
			 British Airways 47 
			 British Airways Citiexpress Ltd. 23 
			 British Midland 4 
			 British Midland Commuter 1 
			 British Midland Regional Ltd. 1 
			 Cabair Helicopters Ltd. 1 
			 Channel Express 22 
			 CHC Scotia Limited 22 
			 Cheqair 1 
			 Cougar Leasing Limited 4 
			 Eastern Airways 2 
			 Easy Jet 19 
			 Euroceltic Airways 6 
			 European Aviation Air Charter 5 
			 Excel Airways 85 
			 First Choice Airways Ltd. 11 
			 Flightline 5 
			 Flybe 4 
			 Flyglobespan 1 
			 Gama Aviation 1 
			 Global Supply Systems 2 
			 Gold Air International Ltd. 1 
			 Heavylift Cargo Airlines 4 
			 JMC Airlines 4 
			 Loganair 2 
			 McAlpine Aviation Services 1 
			 Monarch Airlines 9 
			 My Travel Airways 42 
			 Pool Aviation Ltd. 1 
			 Suckling Airways Ltd. 4 
			 Tag Aviation 4 
			 Thomas Cook 4 
			 Virgin Atlantic 10 
			 Woodgate Executive Air Charter 9 
		
	
	Since 1 January this year the following UK airlines have applied for waivers under Article 8.3 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2407/92:
	
		
			 UK Airline Applications 
		
		
			 Air Atlanta Europe 19 
			 Air Wales 1 
			 Airx Ltd. T/A Rockhopper 1 
			 Astraeus 17 
			 Atlantic Airlines 1 
			 BMI Baby 2 
			 BMI Regional 2 
			 Britannia Airways 3 
			 British Airways 3 
			 British Airways Citiexpress Ltd. 6 
			 British Midland 1 
			 Channel Express 7 
			 CHC Scotia Limited 12 
			 Eastern Airways 4 
			 Easy Jet 2 
			 Excel Airways 52 
			 First Choice Airways Ltd. 8 
			 Flybe 4 
			 Loganair 4 
			 Monarch Airlines 2 
			 My Travel Airways 14 
			 Suckling Airways Ltd. 1 
			 Thomas Cook 14 
			 Thomsonfly 2

Ministerial Travel

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many air miles were accrued through departmental ministerial travel in his Department in 200405, broken down by Minister; how many were (a) foregone and (b) donated to charity, broken down by charity; and whether air miles accrued by officials were required to be (i) foregone and (ii) given to charity.

Karen Buck: No Ministers in the Department for Transport accrue Air Miles in undertaking official travel. Ministerial travel is conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers. Guidance for Ministers on the use of Air Miles is set out in the Ministerial Code. The guidance makes clear that Air Miles should be used only for official purposes or else foregone. However, if it is impracticable to use the benefits for Government travel, there is no objection to Ministers donating them to charity if this is permissible under the terms of the airline's scheme and the charity is one chosen by the airline.
	Details of Air Miles accrued by officials in the Department could not be ascertained without disproportionate cost, but officials are encouraged to offset them against subsequent official travel. Where this is not possible, the benefits are foregone.

Motorways

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on plans for trial use of the hard shoulder as a running lane on the M65.

Stephen Ladyman: There are no plans for a trial use of the hard shoulder as a running lane on the M65. The Highways Agency are planning to trial the use of hard shoulder running as part of the M42 Active Traffic Management Pilot and this will inform any further roll out.

Motorways

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to widen the M25 between junctions 23 and 31; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Both carriageways of the M25 between junctions 23 and 30 are to be widened as part of schemes that entered the targeted programme of improvements in April 2004. At present there are no proposals to widen junction 31.

Pedestrians (Car Accidents)

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many pedestrians have been (a) killed and (b) injured through being hit by cars or other vehicles in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Stephen Ladyman: The number of pedestrians killed and injured through being hit by cars or other vehicles for the years 1995 to 2004 are given in the table.
	
		Number of pedestrian casualties killed and injured through being hit by a car or other vehicle: 1995 to 2005
		
			  Hit by a car Hit by another vehicle 
			  Killed Injured Killed Injured 
		
		
			 1995 763 39,194 275 6,851 
			 1996 740 38,718 257 6,735 
			 1997 752 37,780 221 6,848 
			 1998 673 37,367 233 6,613 
			 1999 608 35,054 262 6,964 
			 2000 590 34,199 267 6,977 
			 2001 531 32,955 295 6,796 
			 2002 534 31,490 241 6,519 
			 2003 533 29,276 241 6,355 
			 2004 462 28,116 209 6,094

Public Transport Schemes (Lancashire)

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total Government spending on public transport schemes in Lancashire has been in each year since 1997.

Karen Buck: Much of the Government spending related to rail cannot be readily disaggregated to local authority level.
	The funding provided directly to Lancashire county council since 1997 that can be used for spending on public transport schemes is shown in the following table.
	
		 million
		
			  Lancashire county council nature of funding 
			  Integrated transport block Targeted bus grants(15) 
		
		
			 199899 2.203 1.233 
			 19992000 3.833 1.139 
			 200001 4.200 1.411 
			 200102 11.200 2.212 
			 200203 11.922 1.575 
			 200304 12.051 3.777 
			 200405 13.033 1.238 
			 200506 11.000 1.29 
		
	
	(15) Includes rural bus subsidy grant and rural bus challenge funding.
	The integrated transport block funding can be used for local highways or public transport capital projects. It has been for Lancashire to determine how that allocation has been spent, in line with its local transport plan and its priorities. On average councils spend about one third of this block on public transport schemes.

Railways

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on progress on the new franchise for Thameslink services.

Derek Twigg: Bids are currently being evaluated by the Department for Transport. It is intended to announce the successful bidder before the end of the year.

Railways

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact of the new West Midlands franchise on rail services between Leighton Buzzard and London Euston, with particular reference to the (a) speed and (b) frequency of services; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 25 October 2005
	The announcement by the Secretary of State on Tuesday 18 October determined the new franchise map, including the creation of a new West Midlands franchise.
	The specification for the franchise, including services from Leighton Buzzard, will be reviewed at the next stage of the process.

Railways

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what performance measures his Department has in place to monitor the (a) quality and (b) reliability of service provided by the company awarded the East Coast Mainline Franchise.

Derek Twigg: GNER's Franchise Agreement contains a number of measures whereby the Department for Transport is able to monitor both the qualitative and quantitative delivery of services. GNER's obligations include targets for the number of minutes delay caused to passengers as well as the number of services cancelled. GNER also has a punctuality target for 90 per cent. of services to arrive within 10 minutes by 1 January 2010. The quality of GNER's service is measured predominantly through a Service Quality regime, whereby its stations, trains and depots are periodically surveyed to ensure that standards are being maintained. The quality of its delivery is also reviewed and benchmarked twice a year as part of the industry-wide National Passenger Survey.

Railways

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what the level of Government subsidy for the railway industry will be in the 200607 financial year;
	(2)  what plans the Government have for future subsidy of the railway industry;
	(3)  what changes there have been in levels of net Government subsidy to the railway industry since 1997.

Derek Twigg: The Government's spending plan for rail were originally set out in Transport 10 Year Plan document published in July 2000. These spending plans were updated in Department for Transport Progress Report published December 2002.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's statement to the House of 10 February 2005 also sets out how the Department for Transport intends to allocate money on railways until April 2009.

Railways

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations his Department has received on the proposed Railfreight terminal at Radlett Aerodrome; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: My Department is not aware of any formal representations about this proposal. A number of informal discussions were held with the Strategic Rail Authority before the freight functions were transferred to the Department in June this year.

Railways

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Strategic Rail Authority regarding the future of train services in (a) Sole Street, (b) Gravesend, (c) Higham and (d) Meopham.

Derek Twigg: The future train services at Sole Street, Gravesend, Higham and Meopham were developed, through consultation with stakeholders, by the Strategic Rail Authority in specifying the new Integrated Kent Franchise. These proposed train services for the new franchise were approved by the Secretary of State for Transport before being included in the Invitation to Tender.

Railways

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who is responsible for the pension deficit on South West Trains; what would happen to the pension liabilities in the event that a new franchisee was chosen; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: Most employees of South West Trains are members of the South West Trains Shared Cost Section of the Railways Pension Scheme. South West Trains, as franchise holder, is responsible for managing the terms and conditions of service of its staff, including pension arrangements, in accordance with general Employment Legislation and the specific legislation relating to Railway pensions.
	In the event of a shortfall in this Section, the rules of the Scheme allow the employer and trustee six months after the valuation is signed to agree arrangements to make good the shortfall. The valuation as at 31 December 2004 is expected to be finalised by 31 December 2005 and so the six months will expire on 30 June 2006. If no agreement is reached within the six months there are default provisions in the rules that basically would increase both the members and employer's contributions.
	On a change of franchisee, it is expected that the new franchisee will become the Designated Employer for the Section and assume all employer contributions for the Section.

Railways

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many passengers use (a) Westcliff-on-Sea and (b) Leigh-on-Sea stations at (i) morning peak, (ii) evening peak and (iii) off-peak hours.

Derek Twigg: Latest figures available from the Train Operator (200203 survey), show the following results:
	Westcliff-on-Sea station is used by approximately 700 people in each weekday peak. Off-peak travel from this station is also used by approximately 700 passengers, although spread over a larger time period.
	Leigh-on-Sea station is used by approximately 1,850 people in each peak, with a further 600 passengers using the station outside these times.
	Peak is defined as 07001000 and 16001900 weekdays, excluding public and bank holidays.

Railways

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received about train timetabling on the Hastings to London Victoria route.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 24 October 2005
	Representations have been received from local organisations, Members of Parliament, local councils and members of the public. Proposals for future train services on the Hastings to London Victoria route have been developed by the Strategic Rail Authority, through consultation with stakeholders, in developing the Brighton Mainline Route Utilisation Strategy (RUS). A final strategy will be published in due course.

Rebranding

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent on rebranding in his Department and related agencies in each of the last five years.

Karen Buck: The Department for Transport was formed in 2002 following machinery of government changes.
	The expenditure listed relates to the one-off costs of rebranding of the new Department and of the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) which was formed in 2003; a brand and design guide used in the Highways Agency and minor changes to signage and electronic templates at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.
	
		
			   
		
		
			 200102 nil 
			 200203  
			 central Department 25,000 
			 Highways Agency 48,000 
			 VOSA 3,700 
			 200304  
			 VOSA 20,000 
			 200405  
			 DVLA 5,000 
			 200506 nil to date

Regional Transport Schemes

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to ensure the prioritisation of regional transport schemes by committees of regional assemblies are (a) publicised and (b) discussed further with stakeholders.

Karen Buck: On 21 July we issued guidance to the eight English regions outside London on preparing advice to central Government on the prioritisation of housing, economic development and transport schemes in their region. They were asked to submit advice by 31 January 2006.
	The guidance made clear that while regional development agencies and regional assemblies would have a key role to play in preparing advice, other regional, sub-regional and local bodies, including the business community and local government, should also be brought into the process to ensure that the advice reflects relevant interests across each region. It also stressed that advice will be more credible to Ministers if it is a product of a wide consensus within regions.

Road Safety

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has had from the emergency services since June 2001 on the removal of (a) speed humps and (b) pinch points on the road network.

Karen Buck: The Department has not received any representations from the emergency services since June 2001 on the removal of traffic calming measures.
	However, the London Ambulance Service did contact the Department in October 2001 with concerns that traffic calming may have a detrimental effect on ambulance response times. A regular dialogue has been maintained since this time to establish the nature of the concerns and to assist with possible solutions.
	If any emergency service were experiencing difficulties with particular traffic calming measures, we would expect them to raise this with the relevant local highway authority rather than the Department. Local highway authorities have responsibility for the design and implementation of traffic calming measures, and any subsequent alterations they might require.

Road Traffic Offences

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the reasons that (i) men and (ii) women commit offences under sections (A) 14(3), (B) 15(2) and (C) 15(4) of the Road Traffic Act 1988; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: These offences relate to the failure of adults to use seat belts in motor vehicles and to driver responsibility for the use of seat belts by children less than 14 years of age in the front or rear of motor vehicles.
	The Department commissioned TRL Report 222, The characteristics and attitudes of adult non-wearers of rear restraints, which was published in 1998. That provided information on attitudes towards rear seat belt use by men and women. This has been used to inform the Department's publicity campaign. The report is available to purchase from TRL via their website at http://www.trl.co.uk/store/report_detail.asp?srid=2395.
	TRL also publish reports of twice-yearly observational surveys for the Department of seat belt wearing by adults and children. A summary of the results of these surveys from 1982 is available at http://www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk/statistics/belt0504.htm. The latest report Lf2096 is available free at http://www.trl.co.uk/store/report_list.asp?pid=211pno=5searchtext. That contains the references to earlier reports in the series. These reports provide information by gender and age.
	The Department undertook research in March 2002, aimed at identifying the most compelling message that will encourage seat belt wearing. This has enabled the Department to target its messages on seat belt wearing.

Speed Cameras

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost of administering the speed camera network was in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by main area of expenditure.

Stephen Ladyman: Safety Camera Partnership expenditure in 200304 was 91,877,359 of which 62,389,618 was revenue expenditure and 29,487,741 was capital expenditure. All partnership audit certificates for 200304, which show a breakdown of expenditure by partner, are posted on the Department's website at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/qroups/dft_foi/documents/divisionhomepaqe/035233.hcsp
	Audit certificates for 200405 will be published later this year.

Thames Port Development

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make a final decision on the proposed new Thames port.

Stephen Ladyman: On 20 July, my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport announced that he was minded to approve the application for a Harbour Empowerment Order for the proposed London Gateway port on the former Shell Haven oil refinery site. On the same day my right hon. Friend the First Secretary of State announced that he was minded to grant outline planning permission for a commercial and logistics centre on land adjacent to the proposed new port.
	These decisions were subject to resolution of a number of issues, including of the impacts of both of these proposed developments on the highways network. Proposals to deal with these matters were received on 20 October and will be carefully considered before proceeding to a final decision.

Travel Concessions

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will estimate the annual cost of extending a national half-fare travel concession to young people aged (a) 14 to 16, (b) 14 to 18 and (c) 14 to 21 years;
	(2)  how much funding the Government have provided to local authorities to help fund travel concessions for young people aged between 16 and 19 years in full-time education in each year since 1997;
	(3)  what the estimated (a) total cost and (b) cost to central Government of extending concessionary fare schemes for local public transport to (i) those over 60 and the disabled in England and (ii) young people up to age 19 in full-time education in England has been in each year since 1997.

Karen Buck: In 2001 the Government introduced a statutory minimum entitlement for off-peak local bus travel for pensioners and disabled people in England and provided 54 million to fund the extra costs. A further 50 million was provided in 200304 to fund the entitlement for men aged 6064. The Government will provide an extra 350 million in 200607 to fund the cost to local authorities of the improvement in the statutory minimum entitlement from half to free-fares. Local authorities, and Passenger Transport Executives, have the freedom to offer enhancements to the statutory minimum, the costs of which are included in the figures presented in the table.
	There is no statutory requirement on local authorities to provide concessionary fares for young people up to age 19 in full-time education in England, therefore no specific funding. Local authorities can offer such concessions at their own discretion based on local needs and financial priorities. The costs of providing discretionary concessionary travel schemes for the young are shown below.
	
		 million
		
			  Concessionary fare reimbursement for travel by the elderly Concessionary fare reimbursement for travel by the young 
		
		
			 199798 303.1 51.9 
			 199899 308.8 47.3 
			 19992000 324.1 45.8 
			 200001 331.6 51.3 
			 200102 351.4 50.2 
			 200203 360.1 51.7 
			 200304 369.0 51.0 
			 200405 Not yet available. 
		
	
	It is not possible to breakdown the concessionary fare reimbursement figures by different age groups.

CABINET OFFICE

Civil Service Pensions

Tim Boswell: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what arrangements are planned under the new pension arrangements to maintain civil servants' pension rights (including qualifying dates) in the event of service being broken on account of (a) illness, (b) family responsibilities, (c) unpaid leave and (d) other causes.

John Hutton: The Government and trade unions agreed a common set of principles for public service pension reform at a special meeting of the Public Services Forum on 18 October 2005. Discussions on changes to the Civil Service Pension Scheme for existing and new employees will now take place between the Cabinet Office and the civil service unions in accordance with the common set of agreed principles. No decisions have therefore yet been made on the detail relating to any new pension arrangements.
	The Cabinet Office plans to publish a follow-up document summarising the proposed way forward following the conclusion of discussions with the civil service unions.

Civil Service Pensions

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received on proposed changes to the Civil Service Pension Scheme.

John Hutton: The consultation document Building a sustainable future set out the Cabinet Office's proposals to reform the Civil Service Pension Scheme. The consultation finished on 4 March 2005. Cabinet Office has received over 6,200 responses to the consultation. This included some 6,000 responses from scheme members (139 of which were sent via their local Member of Parliament), 45 responses from civil service employers and pension administrators, and 138 responses from 11 unions and their sub-branches.
	Since then the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has chaired three special meetings of the Public Services Forum (PSF) to discuss public sector pension reform. At the third and final meeting, which took place on the 18 October 2005, the Government and trade unions agreed a common set of principles for public service pension reform. Discussion on changes to the Civil Service Pension Scheme for existing and new employees will now take place between the Cabinet Office and the civil service unions in accordance with the common set of agreed principles.
	The Cabinet Office plans to publish a follow-up document summarising the consultation responses, and the proposed way forward, following the conclusion of discussions with the civil service unions.

Departmental Staff

Nick Gibb: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what training in (a) literacy and (b) numeracy is offered to employees of his Department.

John Hutton: The Cabinet Office Performance Management System supports the further development of skills and competences and if basic skills needs for individuals become apparent these would be addressed through personal development plans.
	The Cabinet Office, in response to an identified need for a significant group of employees, has run a series of communication skills events with a specific focus on clear business English and the effective use of language and punctuation.

Departmental Staff

Nick Gibb: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the literacy and numeracy skills of new Civil Service staff recruited through the Fast Stream Accelerated Development programme.

John Hutton: Successful candidates for the Civil Service Fast Stream will have demonstrated a high level of literacy and numeracy skills during the selection process. They are required to pass challenging selection tests which measure both their numerical and verbal reasoning skills. At the subsequent Fast Stream Assessment Centre, candidates are assessed through written and oral exercises which require both excellent written communication skills and numerical ability.

E-Government

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimate he has made of public sector spending on information and communications technology for e-Government in each year since 2001, broken down by Government department; and what estimate he has made of the effects of e-Government on cost efficiency of departments.

Jim Murphy: The Cabinet Office does not collect information on individual departments' spending on e-Government. However recent research by Kable indicates that 14 billion per annum is spent on information technology (IT) across the public sector.
	The Spending Review 2004 (SR04) reported that significant investment in information communication technology (ICT) in both central and local government is streamlining the delivery of services to the public, cutting transaction costs and reducing paperwork. Examples of efficiency gains can be found in the Spending Review, copies of which are available in the Library and at http://hm-Treasury.gov.uk/spending_review/spend__sr04/rep ort/spend_sr04_repindex.cfm

Strategy on Adult Basic Skills

Nick Gibb: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Strategy on Adult Basic Skills for the Civil Service.

John Hutton: Since the civil service strategy was launched in 2001, all main government departments, as well as many small departments, agencies and non departmental public bodies (NDPBs), have developed action plans for implementation of the strategy. Departments have made significant progress against these action plans, including: embedding skills for life training in in-house courses; developing specific literacy and numeracy courses and working with unions, through union learning representatives, to support staff. The Ministry of Defence Civil Service in Northern Ireland has recently won a national training award for their skills for life activity.
	The Cabinet Office, in its corporate work, has continued to work closely with Department for Education and Science (DfES) to support departments in implementation of the strategy. In addition, Cabinet Office as employer has addressed the strategy and taken action including providing information on an internal website; providing advice and support to staff; and the distribution of marketing materials and literature to raise awareness.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

EU Finance

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which (a) Ministers and (b) Departments are involved in discussions on the European Union's next financial perspective and the future of the UK's abatement; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The issue of the UK's position on the financial perspectives is a matter for the Government as a whole, and not for individual Ministers or Departments. A large number of Departments have an interest in the issues mentioned.

EU Finance

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the negotiations concerning (a) the European Union's next financial perspective, (b) the future of the UK's abatement and (c) the reform of the common agricultural policy.

Douglas Alexander: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will update Parliament on these negotiations in due course.

EU Finance

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals the Government are putting forward to EU (a) partners and EU (b) institutions with regard to the European Union's next financial perspective; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The Government have not put forward any Presidency proposals for the 200713 budget. We have held formal consultations with each of the 24 other member states, as well as the two accession states Romania and Bulgaria, in order to ensure that we understand their views and concerns on this issue. The UK Presidency believes agreement on the 200713 budget can and should be reached in December, and we will have to reflect, in the light of member states' views and the proposals published by the European Commission on 20 October, how best to do this. We plan to have a first ministerial discussion of the issue at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 7 November, followed by further discussions through November leading to the European Council on 1516 December. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will update Parliament on these negotiations in due course.

United States

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the purpose of his forthcoming visit to the United States.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 20 October 2005
	The purpose of my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's visit to the United States was to have extended working discussions with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on the full range of issues facing the UK and US; to promote the UK agenda to a southern US audience; and to visit a historically troubled area that has turned itself around. He spent Friday 21 October and the weekend in Alabama and at either end of the visit stopped off in Washington.

United States

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the itinerary is for his forthcoming visit to the United States.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 20 October 2005
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary spent Friday 21 October and the weekend in Alabama at the invitation of the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, visiting a historically troubled area that has turned itself around. The programme provided them with the opportunity to have extended working discussions on the full range of issues facing the UK and US, as well as to promote the UK agenda to a southern US audience. At either end of the visit the Foreign Secretary stopped off in Washington.
	The Foreign Secretary gave a foreign policy speech at the Blackburn Institute, and met victims of Hurricane Katrina at a relief camp set up in Alabama, as well as those who helped in the hurricane relief effort. He also visited a Civil Rights institute, attended a dedication event for the victims of a bombing at a local Baptist Church, attended a local football game and toured an elementary school and a medical institute.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

2012 Olympics

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the potential economic benefits to the North East arising from London hosting the 2012 Olympics.

Richard Caborn: St. James' Park, Newcastle, will host preliminary rounds of the football competition in 2012.
	We expect the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games to deliver wide economic benefits for the UK, although no specific assessment has been made of the benefits to the North East.
	The Games will offer companies the opportunity to compete for billions of pounds worth of contracts, provide the opportunity to bid for preparation camps and provide a welcome boost to the tourism industry. One North East will continue to work closely with my Department and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games to ensure they are well placed to benefit fully from these opportunities.

2012 Olympics

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department plans to take to ensure that businesses situated in all parts of the United Kingdom are able to tender for contracts to supply goods and services in respect of the London Olympics 2012.

Richard Caborn: All kinds of businesses, large and small, will be needed to deliver the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Tendering opportunities will be publicised by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) when it is established, and the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG). Until then, the London Development Agency (LDA) and Transport for London (TfL) will invite tenders for all contracts in relation to the construction or transport requirements of the Olympic Park via the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). These opportunities will be open to businesses across the whole of the UK.

Departmental Staff

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what training in (a) literacy and (b) numeracy is offered to employees of her Department.

David Lammy: If a DCMS employee or their line manager identifies that they may have a literacy or numeracy skills gap, the DCMS Learning and Development team can provide advice and support. If appropriate, the Department can arrange for the employee to be screened to identify the nature and extent of their learning needs. If a literacy or numeracy need is identified, the Department will then arrange and fund appropriate training and sitting of national tests.
	This information is published within the Department as part of the Learning and Development Policy and is available to all DCMS staff on the Department's intranet site.

National Lottery Bill

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations she has received from charities regarding the National Lottery Bill; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: I have not received any representations from charities about the National Lottery Bill. However my officials have had regular discussions on a variety of topics including Bill provisions with umbrella bodies such as the National Council for Voluntary Organisations. In addition I met senior representatives of the voluntary and community sector on 14 July to discuss their views on the Bill.

National Sports Foundation

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what meetings she has had on the establishment of the National Sports Foundation; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The Government, along with Sport England and the national governing bodies for Football, Cricket, Tennis, Rugby Union and Rugby League, are continuing to discuss and examine options on how most effectively to deliver the National Sports Foundation. A further announcement will be made in due course.

Stonehenge

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the effects on the construction of the Stonehenge Visitors Centre on the delay of constructing the A303 improvements.

David Lammy: The dependencies between the improvements to the A303 and the proposed Stonehenge Visitors' Centre will be taken into account in the review of options for the road scheme. The review is essential given the escalating costs of the published road improvement scheme since the Planning Inquiry last year. We plan to announce the terms of reference and arrangements for the review later this autumn.

Tourism

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to promote tourism in England.

James Purnell: holding answer 21 October 2005
	My Department works actively to promote both domestic and inbound tourism in England. At a national level, marketing and other work to promote tourism in England is overseen by the England Marketing Advisory Board, which advises on the use of grant in aid funding from my Department to VisitBritain for that purpose. Such funding will total 12.9 million this year, and is included in VisitBritain's total allocation of 49.05 million.
	I have informed VisitBritain, and the Advisory Board, that my priority for tourism in England is EnglandNet, which will shortly be fully operational as a single marketing and information platform for internet users. The EnglandNet system allows users in the UK and overseas to access destination information at national, regional and local levels, and acts as a portal to the booking facilities offered by approved commercial operators. It has the full support of the Regional Development Agencies.
	With the involvement of the Advisory Board, VisitBritain runs a number of high profile, England-specific marketing campaigns each year. Recent campaigns have included Waterside England and Outdoor England. These campaigns are taken forward within Great Britain to promote visits to England and, following VisitBritain's recent re-organisation of its overseas activities, in the Irish, French, German, and Dutch markets.

DEFENCE

Aircraft Contracts

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to his Department of the leasing or hiring helicopters and fixed wing aircraft from commercial contractors has been in the 200506 financial year; from which companies these aircraft are sourced; how many have been sourced in this financial year; whether the contracts include flight crew and aircaft maintenance costs; where these aircraft are based; and what duties they perform.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 17 October 2005
	The cost to the Ministry of Defence of leasing or hiring helicopters and fixed wing aircraft is likely to be in the region of 74 million in 200506. The information requested is shown in the following table.
	The data shown in this table has been gathered from centrally held records. A number of areas within the Department hire or lease aircraft but details of these contracts are not held centrally and could be supplied only at disproportionate costs.
	
		Table showing aircraft involved, status of flight crew and maintenance costs, sites and duties
		
			 Company supplying service Aircraft Type and Number and contracted hours Aircrew / Maintenance Status Location Description of Task Notes 
		
		
			 FB Heliservices Ltd., Grove House, Lutyens Close, Chineham Court, Basingstoke, RG24 8AG 3 x Bell 212HP AH Mkl 1200 flying hours per year Military Aircrew Maintenance costs, scheduled and unscheduled, are included in the lease price Belize Helicopter support to the British Army Training Support Unit Belize (BATSUB)Provision of Forward AeroMedical Evacuation (FAME) in support of jungle training in Belize. Additional tasks include movement of internal and external freight, personnel movement, winching and abseiling operations.  
			   
			 FB Heliservices Ltd. 3 x Bell 212HP AH Mkl 1200 flying hours per year Military Aircrew Maintenance costs, scheduled and unscheduled, are included in the lease price Brunei Helicopter Support to the Brunei GarrisonProvision of Forward AeroMedical Evacuation (FAME) in support of jungle training in Brunei. Additional tasks include movement of internal and external freight, personnel movement, winching and abseiling operations.  
			   
			 FB Heliservices Ltd. L x Bel! 212HP AH Mkl Tasked as required. Minimum 225 flying hours per year. Military students, Civil Instructors provided under the contract Maintenance costs, scheduled and unscheduled, are included in the lease price Middle Wallop Provision of Pilot Training in support of 25 FLT AAC Belize and 7 FLT AAC Brunei. Costs also include the provision of 50 simulator hours in the USA annually. Aircraft is provided at minimal profit to company who are able to use it for third party revenue. 
			   
			 FB Heliservices Ltd. 4 x Bell 412EP (Griffin HAR Mk2) 1600 flying hours per year Military Aircrew Maintenance costs, scheduled and unscheduled, are included in the lease price Cyprus Helicopter Support to British Forces Cyprus (BFC) and the Sovereign Base Areas Administration (SBAA)The aircraft provide Search and Rescue cover primarily for Fast Jet flying. Additional tasks include movement of internal and external freight, personnel movement, winching operations, water drop for firefighting  
			   
			 Contract with FBS Grove House, Lutyens Close, Chineham Court, Basingstoke, RG24 8AG 37 x Eurocopter AS350BB Single Squirrel 11 x Bell 412EP (Griffin HT Mkl) 9 x Griffins per day (7615 hrs/year) and 32 x Squirrels per day (28690 hrs/year) The contract includes a number of support services, flight simulators and the provision of some flying instructors. Military students, military/civil instructors Shawbury, Valley and Middle Wallop Single/Multi-Engine Basic/Advanced Rotary Wing flying training  
			   
			 British International, Penzance Heliport. 2 x Eurocopter AS365N2 Dauphin 1500 flying hours per year Civil Aircrew provided under the contract Maintenance costs, scheduled and unscheduled, are included in the lease price Plymouth City Airport Used to convey sea riding staff and equipment to and from warships primarily involved in Flag Officer Sea Training exercises on the south coast. Also used for ships aviation training, equipment calibrations and Flight Deck Training Unit activities at RNAS Culdrose. There is provision in the contract for miscellaneous airborne trials and other support tasks as well as the provision of assistance to casualty evacuation. Cost also includes provision of further 200 flying hours capability on up to 2 civil registered S-61 helicopters based at Penzance Heliport. Used in support of Joint Maritime Courses in waters around Scotland and embarkations throughout the UK. 
			   
			 PremiAir Ltd. Hangar Lane, Denham Aerodrome, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB9 5DF 3 x Eurocopter AS355F1 Twin Squirrels 900hrs flying hours per year Military Aircrew Maintenance costs, scheduled and unscheduled, are included in the lease price Northolt Military Communications  
			   
			 F.R. Aviation Bournemouth Int. Airport, Christchurch, Dorset BN23 6NE 12 x Falcon DA-20 Civil Aircrew Maintenance costs, scheduled and unscheduled, are included in the lease price RN/ RAF Partnering Arrangement Medium speed Electronic Warfare, Threat Simulation, Silent Target and Target Towing Service for both RN and RAF. 6 x Falcon DA-20 based at Bournemouth International Airport. 6 x Falcon DA-20 based at Durham and Tees Valley Airport. Used to provide a variety of training for ships and aircraft both in the UK and internationally, in support of national and NATO training exercises.  
			   
			 SERCO Defence Aerospace, Enterprise House, 11 Bartley Wood Business Park, Bartley Way, Hook, Hants RG27 9XB Raytheon Beech King Air 200 to meet requirement of 6281 flying hours per year Military crew Maintenance costs, scheduled and unscheduled, are included in the contract price Cranwell Station Support Services and aircraft for Flying Training  
			   
			 VT Aerospace, Bournemouth Int. Airport, Christchurch, Dorset BH23 6BF 94 Grob Tutor Mil Trainers Maintenance costs, scheduled and unscheduled, are included in the contract price Wyton, Colerne, Glasgow, Benson, Boscombe, Church Fenton, Cosford, Cranwell, Leeming, Leuchars, St. Athan, Woodvale Aircraft to facilitate Elementary flying training for the RAF, Air Experience flying for cadets, flying for University Air Squadrons plus some flying for direct entrant officers.  
			   
			 Babcock, Pembroke House, Pegasus Business Park, Herald Way, Castle Donnington, Derby DE74 2TZ 24 Firefly Mix of contractor and mil instructors. Contractor responsible for all support  maintenance costs Barkston Heath, Cranwell, Middle Wallop Elementary flying training for Army and Royal Navy. Ongoing training programme for RAF concentrating on crew cooperation, crew resource management and airways flying of multi engine pilots.

Aircraft Crashes

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of Annex H to the RAF Board of Inquiry report into the loss of Tornado GR1A at Killin (Glen Ogle) on 1 September 1994.

Don Touhig: I will place a copy of Annex H of the Board of Inquiry into the loss of the Tornado ZG708 at Killin (Glen Ogle) on 1 September 1994 in the Library. The document has been declassified and a small amount of information at paragraph 3 and Annexes A and B, has been withheld under the European Convention on Human Rights, Article 8 (Right to Respect for Private and Family Life), enabled by the Human Rights Act 1998. The names of individuals that do not form a substantive part of the information requested have been removed.

Aircraft Crashes

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of the RAF Boards of Inquiry reports on (a) the Tornado ZE858 which crashed at Stainmore, Cumberland on 21 October 1993, (b) the Tornado F3 which crashed into the North sea 45 nautical miles north east of Scarborough on 7 June 1994, (c) the Tornado GR1 which crashed 16 nautical miles north of RAF Lossiemouth on 19 July 1994 and (d) the Tornado F3 which crashed on 10 March 1995.

Don Touhig: The Boards of Inquiry reports are being recalled from archives and will be examined for release, suitably redacted. I will write to the right hon. Member, and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Arms Fairs

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department issues guidelines to companies on the types of weapons made available for sale at arms fairs.

Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply.
	No. However we do liaise with exhibition organisers about export control obligations which may apply to them, or to exhibitors and their clients.
	In preparation for DSEi 2005, for example, the DTI's Export Control Organisation (ECO) liaised with the exhibition organisers, providing them with guidance on exhibition activities, which was published on the exhibition organisers' website and in a handbook provided to the exhibitors. A bulletin was also sent to all exhibitors prior to the exhibition, which included information about relevant UK controls, including the UK's trade controls. Exhibitors were made further aware of UK export/trade control requirements in a pre-briefing for exhibitors immediately prior to the exhibition.

Army Prosecuting Authority

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many investigations of alleged ill-treatment by service personnel in Iraq have been discontinued at a commanding officer's request before the Army Prosecuting Authority has had an opportunity to consider them.

Adam Ingram: None.

Balkans

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the security situation in the Balkans.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 17 October 2005, Official Report, column 657W, to the hon. Member for Hammersmith and Fulham (Mr. Hands).

Civilian Staff

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilian staff employed by the Department have been made redundant in each year since 1998.

Don Touhig: holding answer 21 October 2005
	The following table gives details of Ministry of Defence civilian redundancies, both voluntary and compulsory, for the financial years 19992000 to 200405. Comparable information for financial year 199899 is not available.
	
		Civilian staff redundancy : financial years 19992000 to 200405
		
			  Headcount 
		
		
			 19992000 1,560 
			 200001 1,220 
			 200102 840 
			 200203 710 
			 200304 1,580 
			 200405 890 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. This table uses the revised definition of civilian personnel (www.dasa.mod.uk) includes trading funds.
	2. No redundancy information is available for Royal Fleet Auxiliary or locally engaged civilian staff.
	3. Due to the founding methods used, figures are rounded to the nearest 10, numbers ending in 5 have been rounded to the nearest 20 to prevent systematic bias.

Departmental Vehicles

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many vehicles for which the Department is responsible are fitted with retreaded tyres.

Adam Ingram: None.

Earthquake Rescue Work

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what requests (a) the UK Government and (b) NATO have received from the (i) Pakistani, (ii) Kashmiri and (iii) Indian authorities for helicopters and other military equipment deployed in Afghanistan to be redeployed to humanitarian emergency rescue work following the earthquake.

Adam Ingram: The Pakistan Government asked the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 9 October for United Kingdom helicopter support in the expectation that there were UK military helicopters in the region. At the time, there were no deployments of UK military helicopters in the region, including in Afghanistan. At DfID's request, however, the Ministry of Defence will deploy three heavy lift CH-47 Chinook helicopters, with accompanying personnel, for a four week operating period to support the Pakistan relief effort. A small military team travelled to Islamabad on 19 October to facilitate the deployment of these aircraft.
	The MOD also air-lifted two Puma helicopters from Seville, Spain, by RAF C- 17 for use by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in support of the relief effort. The helicopters arrived in Islamabad on 17 October.
	The requests that NATO has received are available on the NATO website.

Fraud Investigations

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) Special Investigations Branch personnel and (b) secondees from other agencies were assigned to the investigation of fraud in (i) 200304, (ii) 200405 and (iii) to date in 200506.

Adam Ingram: Since 2003, the Royal Military Police Special Investigation Branch has employed two Staff Sergeants and four specialist Financial Warrant Officers to investigate fraud, related both to Public and Non-Public funds in the Army.

Fraud Investigations

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he was first informed of Special Investigations Branch (SIB) inquiries into fraud in the Adjutant General's Office; what estimate he has made of the amount of money fraudulently dispensed; how many employees are under investigation; and at what rank the SIB officer in charge of the investigation is.

Adam Ingram: I am unable to comment as this could prejudice ongoing Royal Military Police investigations.

Infantry

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the adequacy and availability of British infantry to respond to additional urgent deployments; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on the 13 June 2005, Official Report, column 12, to the hon. Member for Southend, West (Mr. Amess).

Iran

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to ensure the repatriation of Royal Naval equipment seized by Iranian forces in the Shatt-Al-Arab.

Adam Ingram: We have pressed the Iranian authorities on many occasions to return the Royal Navy boats and equipment which they have held since June 2004. Our discussions continue.

Iraq

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many hired cars and vans are in use with UK forces in Iraq; and what the cost was of the hire of such vehicles in Iraq in 200405.

Adam Ingram: As at 25 October 2005 there are a total of 117 cars and vans on hire in Iraq. Numbers of cars and vans on hire have decreased from 529 in April to the current levels. The cost of the hire of such vehicles for the whole of 200405 was 8,274,176.82.

Land Mines

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with the US Administration on the use of antipersonnel landmine production.

Adam Ingram: None. This is a matter for the US Administration.

Manning Levels

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on manning levels in (a) the Army and (b) the Royal Navy.

Adam Ingram: A comprehensive analysis of manning levels in the UK armed forces is given in Tri Service Publication (TSP) 4: UK Armed Forces Quarterly Press Release. This publication contains a wide range of information including strength data and intake to and outflow from the UK regular forces. The most recent version of TSP 4 showing the position as at 1 July 2005 was published on 25 August 2005.
	For more recent summary information on strength and requirement I refer the hon. Member to the 1 September issue of TSP 3: UK Armed Forces Strengths and Requirements, published on 13 October 2005.
	Copies of both publications are available in the Library of the House.

Transport Aircraft

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the operational status is of the Royal Air Force's VC10 fleet; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The VC10 fleet is currently meeting all its operational and training tasks, comprising the air-to-air refuelling and air transport roles.

WALES

Council Tax Revaluation

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the total amount of additional tax revenue collected by his Department was following the council tax revaluation process in Wales.

Nick Ainger: This Department does not collect council tax. Council tax is collected by local authorities to fund services they provide to their communities. There is no direct relationship between the revaluation and the overall amount of tax revenue. That is determined by the budgets set by local authorities in the context of grants made available by the Assembly Government. There was a 9.5 per cent. increase in tax revenue in 200506 because of the budget decisions of local authorities. This is in line with the increase in tax revenue in previous years.

Health Services

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will define his responsibilities with regard to health services within Wales.

Peter Hain: The role of the Secretary of State is to act as the voice of Wales in the Cabinet and in Parliament. My responsibilities include ensuring that the interests of Wales are fully considered when Government policy is developed at Westminster and working with the devolved Administration in Cardiff. I am also responsible for the passage of Welsh legislation through Parliament, and act as a champion and public voice for Wales. As Secretary of State for Wales I regularly discuss health issues with colleagues within Government and the Assembly, and with Members of Parliament representing Welsh constituencies.

HEALTH

IVF Treatment (Hampshire)

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to ensure IVF treatment is available in North Hampshire in line with National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines.

Caroline Flint: It is for the North Hampshire Primary Care Trust to implement, in North Hampshire, the clinical guideline on the assessment and treatment for people with fertility problems produced by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Primary care trusts do so in liaison with patients' groups and local health bodies, taking account of local healthcare priorities .

Haemophilia

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made with the provision of recombinant clotting products for people with haemophilia.

Caroline Flint: The final phase of the roll out of recombinant clotting products for all haemophiliac patients commenced on 1 April 2005 and will be completed by 31 March 2006.

NHS Beds

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds there were in the NHS in England in (a) 199798 and (b) 200405.

Liam Byrne: In 199798 there were 138,047 general and acute hospital beds in the national health service in England, of which 107,807 were acute beds. In 200405 there were 136,133 G and A beds, of which 109,505 were acute beds.
	The NHS plan target of increasing the number of G and A beds by 2,100 from the 19992000 baseline was met in 200304.

Emergency Care

Chris Mole: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department is taking to improve access to emergency care in the community.

Liam Byrne: The Department is committed to making emergency and urgent care as local and accessible as possible. Community based general practitioners, out-of-hours providers, minor injury units and walk-in centres already provide the bulk of such care. Improving access further is a key part of the current public consultation Your Health, Your Care, Your Say.

Avian Influenza

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to prepare for a potential pandemic of avian influenza.

Caroline Flint: The UK Government's Influenza Pandemic Plan was published on 19 October. The plan sets out our approach: to support the development of a vaccine against pandemic influenza, to build a stockpile of antiviral drugs to treat those who may become ill and to provide information to health professionals and the public.

Avian Influenza

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what amounts of vaccine for an H5N1 strain of influenza she plans to stockpile for use in the first wave of an avian influenza pandemic before the actual strain has been identified; and whether she has issued a tender for a pandemic vaccine to be manufactured as soon as the strain is identified.

Caroline Flint: We plan to stockpile two to three million doses of H5N1 vaccine. The vaccine may offer some protection against a pandemic strain of influenza, if the pandemic is similar to the H5N1 strain currently circulating in South East Asia. The vaccine will be used for research and may be offered to health care workers if the risk of a pandemic rises significantly.
	On 19 October, the Department announced that manufacturers were being invited to tender for a contract to supply future requirements for around 120 million doses of a vaccine specifically against the pandemic strain. We intend to use this vaccine to offer vaccination to the United Kingdom population and reduce the impact of a pandemic on society.

Avian Influenza

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice is being issued to poultry owners on the possible effects of avian influenza on (a) their and (b) their families' health.

Caroline Flint: The Government recognise the need for sound practical and risk based guidance to be available to the keepers of poultry and other birds. A joint poultry industry and cross departmental working group has been established chaired by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), with representatives from the Department of Health, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the Health Protection Agency (HPA), Defra and the State Veterinary Service, and the poultry industry. The working group will publish guidance to poultry keepers and others shortly.
	Responsibility for guidance lies jointly with the Department, the HPA and the HSE and generic advice for poultry owners, their families and others is provided on their respective websites.

St. George's Hospital, Tooting

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the change has been in the funding of St. George's Hospital, Tooting since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: Audited accounts of the St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust 199798 to 200405 show that income at the trust has risen by 160.4 million from 173.1 million in 199798 to 333.5 million in 200405.

Mersey Regional Ambulance Service

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on plans to improve the Mersey regional ambulance service.

Liam Byrne: Earlier this year the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust jointly commissioned, with its strategic health authority and primary care trusts, an independent review of its services, management and commissioning arrangements.
	A formal strategic response to the plan will be ratified by the trust at the end of October.

Abortions (Overseas Residents)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the countries of residence of women listed as overseas residents in the abortion statistics for the last year for which information is available.

Caroline Flint: This information is contained in table 13 of the Department's statistical bulletin 2005/11 Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2004, which is available at on the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/4/11/75/74/04117574.pdf. Copies are also available in the Library.

ADHD

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which voluntary organisations dealing with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder receive funding from her Department; and how much.

Liam Byrne: In 200506, the Department gave financial support to two voluntary organisations. They are ADHD UK Alliance, which received 20,000 and the National Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service, which received 40,000.

Adverse Medical Incidents

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she made of the number of extra bed days caused by adverse incidents in NHS hospitals in 200405; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: A research study of adverse events in two acute hospitals in Greater London (Vincent, Neale and Woloshynowych 2001) found that each adverse event led to an average of 8.5 additional days in hospital. The study extrapolated these results to England and Wales, estimating that there are approximately three million extra bed days a year as a result of patient safety incidents. During 200304, there were 57,571,000 bed days in England.

Allergies

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Government intend to publish the outcome of their review of the provision of allergy services; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: In its response to the Health Committee report on the provision of allergy services, the Government undertook to carry out a review of the available data and research on the epidemiology of allergic conditions, the demand for and provision of treatment and the effectiveness of relevant interventions. We hope to complete this review of the evidence by the end of June 2006. It will inform decisions about what steps could be taken to address any gaps and pressures that it reveals.

Allergies

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much specialist allergy treatment is provided by the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Strategic Health Authority; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not collected centrally.
	Primary care trusts in partnership with local stakeholders, have the responsibility for deciding what services to provide for their populations, including those with allergies. They are best placed to understand local health needs and commission services to meet them.

Cancer

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS patients below the age of 50 years the Essex strategic health authority area have been treated for breast cancer.

Rosie Winterton: The data for the year 200304 show that Essex strategic health authority has treated 344 national health service patients below the age of 50 years for breast cancer.

Cancer

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the proportion of cancer patients who were not referred with suspected cancer and were therefore not covered by the two week wait in the last period for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The number of patients treated for cancer who were not referred urgently under the two week wait was 66.5 per cent. in the last quarter, April to June 2005. The Cancer Plan target of 31 days from diagnosis with cancer to first treatment, to be achieved from December 2005, picks up those patients who are referred with other conditions but who are subsequently diagnosed with cancer to ensure they receive prompt treatment.

Cancer

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average length of time taken by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has been to carry out a treatment appraisal in each of the last five years for which records are available.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Number of published technology appraisals Average number of months between referral of the topic to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and publication of final guidance 
		
		
			 2000 17 9 
			 2001 14 15 
			 2002 22 17 
			 2003 19 19 
			 2004 11 24 
			 2005(16) 6 20 
		
	
	(16) To end July.

Cancer

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Government have considered setting up a separate advisory group to examine new cancer treatments; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Professor Mike Richards, the national cancer director, regularly chairs a group of experts set up specifically to identify and consider new cancer drugs, prioritise them for potential referral to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and provide advice to the Department.

Cancer

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of cancer patients started their treatment (a) within 31 days of a decision to treat and (b) within 62 days of an urgent general practitioner referral in (i) England, (ii) each strategic health authority and (iii) each NHS trust in each of the last three years.

Rosie Winterton: In England during the first quarter of 200506, 92.6 per cent. of patients started treatment within 31 days of cancer diagnosis, and 77.1 per cent. of patients started treatment within 62 days of urgent referral by their general practitioner.
	Information on percentages of cancer patients who start their treatment within 31 days of a decision to treat and within 62 days of ah urgent GP referral in each strategic health authority and each national health service trust has been placed in the Library.

Cancer

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what new initiatives she plans to reduce the incidence of lung cancer in women.

Rosie Winterton: The 2004 Health Development Agency's publication, The Smoking Epidemic in England estimated that eight out of 10 female lung cancer deaths are smoking attributable. The best way to reduce the incidence of lung cancer in women is to persuade them to give up smoking.
	Since 1998, the Government have put in place a comprehensive strategy to tackle smoking to reduce the deaths caused by smoking. The strategy focuses on action to discourage people from ever starting and help for all smokers, of whatever age and sex, to quit. We are aiming to create a climate where non-smoking is the norm.
	We have banned almost all tobacco advertising, sponsorship and promotion. Our highly effective national anti-smoking education campaign is designed to reach all. People who wish to give up smoking can get help from the national health service stop smoking services. In 200405, 57 per cent. of people accessing the NHS Stop Smoking Services were women. We set out proposals to bring in new measures to improve the way the NHS helps smokers to give up in our White Paper, Choosing Health. We will reduce exposure to second hand smoke and, through a staged approach, make almost all enclosed public places and workplaces smoke-free. In addition, this year we ran an education campaign on the impact of smoking targeted at young women.
	Together this strategy has helped reduce smoking rates in women in England from 26 per cent. in 1998 to 24 per cent. in 2004.

Cardiac Specialists (Kent)

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors specialising in cardiac care there are in Kent hospitals.

Caroline Flint: The number of doctors specialising in cardiac care in Kent hospitals is shown in the table.
	
		Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS): Medical staff within the cardiology specialty by specified organisations, as at 30 September 2004
		
			   Number (headcount) Full-time equivalents (fte) 
		
		
			 Total for specified organisations  30 26 
			 Dartford and Gravesham Acute Health Services National
			 Health Service Trust RN7 3 3 
			 East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust RW 13 12 
			 East Kent NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust RTM   
			 Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust RWF 10 7 
			 Medway NHS Trust RPA 4 4 
			 West Kent NHS and Social Care Trust RXJ   
		
	
	'' Denotes zero.
	Source:
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre Medical and Dental Workforce Census

Darent Valley Hospital

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress Darent Valley Hospital has made towards achieving its accident and emergency targets.

Caroline Flint: The accident and emergency four-hour target and on-going operational standard requires trusts to ensure that 98 per cent. of patients are admitted or discharged within a maximum of four hours of arrival. Dartford and Gravesham National Health Service Trust achieved 98.6 per cent. in April-June 2005.

Darent Valley Hospital

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress Darent Valley Hospital has made towards achieving its waiting lists target in each department.

Caroline Flint: The Department collects information on hospital waiting lists targets at national health service trust level. The latest data on progress that is being made by Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust in achieving its waiting lists target in each department are shown in the table.
	
		Waiting times for first outpatient appointment, Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, quarter ended June 2005
		
			 Weeks 
			   GP written referral requests not yet seen at the end of quarter who have been waiting: 
			 Specialty Specialty name Less than 4 4 to 8 8 to 13 13 to 17 17 to 21 21 plus 
		
		
			 100 General surgery 234 177 45 6 0 0 
			 101 Urology 73 112 68 3 0 0 
			 110 Trauma and Orthopaedics 171 252 137 11 0 0 
			 300 General medicine 104 109 80 4 0 0 
			 303 Haematology (clinical) 6 18 28 1 0 0 
			 320 Cardiology 15 50 38 1 0 0 
			 400 Neurology 0 20 15 4 0 0 
			 410 Rheumatology 59 46 97 8 0 0 
			 420 Paediatrics 35 49 51 3 0 0 
			 430 Geriatric medicine 25 17 8 1 0 0 
			 502 Gynaecology 158 171 42 2 0 0 
			 999 All specialties 880 1,021 609 44 0 0 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health form QM08.

Deanery Funding

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been allocated to deanery funding in the NHS in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: Central funding for postgraduate medical and dental education and training since 1997 is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Amount ( million) 
		
		
			 199697 533 
			 199798 592 
			 199899 621 
			 19992000 657 
			 200001 821 
			 200102 824 
			 200203 1,156 
			 200304 1,235 
			 200405 1,337 
			 200506 1,405 
		
	
	This represents an increase of 164 per cent. or 872 million. These sums formed part of the overall national health service training budgets allocated to regional health authorities and more recently to strategic health authorities. The amounts that postgraduate deaneries actually received will have been determined locally in the light of local priorities and national workforce targets.

Dementia

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what specific training is provided to doctors, nurses and other health care professionals in treating and caring for those with dementia.

Liam Byrne: This is the responsibility of the appropriate regulatory bodies that set standards for the pre-registration training of doctors, nurses and other health care professionals and approve the education institutions that provide the training and determine the curricula.
	Post-registration training needs for national health service staff are determined against local NHS priorities, through appraisal processes and training needs analyses informed by local delivery plans and the needs of the service.
	The content and standard of postgraduate medical training is the responsibility of the United Kingdom competent authorities, the specialist training authority for specialist medicine and, for general practice, the joint committee on postgraduate training for general practice.These bodies have a continuing interest in ensuring that doctors are equipped to deal with the problems they will encounter in practice.

Dentistry

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she has issued guidance to English primary care trusts relating to the dental treatment of patients resident in Wales.

Rosie Winterton: No guidance has been issued to primary care trusts (PCTs) relating to dental treatment of patients resident in Wales. However, PCTs and local health boards in Wales already have a statutory duty to co-operate in the provision of national health service services.

Dentistry

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate she has made of the number and percentage of dental practitioners accepting new NHS patients, in (a) England and (b) each primary care trust in each of the last four years.

Rosie Winterton: The last estimate of dentists accepting new patients showed that, as of May 2004, 36.2 per cent. of practices were taking on new patients.

Dentistry

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to lay before Parliament (a) the National Health Service (General Dental Services Contracts) Regulations 2006 and (b) the National Health Service (Personal Dental Services Agreements) Regulations 2006.

Rosie Winterton: We expect to lay both the National Health Service (General Dental Services Contracts) Regulations 2006 and the National Health Service (Personal Dental Services Agreements) Regulations 2006 before Parliament by the end of 2005.

Dentistry

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she plans to publish her response to the consultation on the Draft National Health Service (Dental Charges) Regulations 2006; and when she expects to lay this measure before Parliament.

Rosie Winterton: We plan to publish the response to the consultation on the draft National Health Service (Dental Charges) Regulations during November 2005; we expect to lay the regulations before Parliament by the end of 2005.

Diet

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average daily consumption of fruit and vegetable portions has been in each of the last five years for (a) adults and (b) children.

Caroline Flint: The average daily consumption of fruit and vegetable portions is shown in the tables for adults and children. The Department is unable to provide data for the last five years, as questions on fruit and vegetable consumption were first included in 2001. Data for 2003 are the most recent available.
	
		Average fruit and vegetable portion consumption for adults, by gender England2001 to 2003
		
			  Men Women Total 
		
		
			 Adults, aged 16 and over
			 2001 3.3 3.5 3.4 
			 2002 3.3 3.5 3.4 
			 2003 3.3 3.6 3.4 
			 
			 Bases
			 2001 6,966 8,681 15,647 
			 2002 3,317 4,077 7,394 
			 2003 6,602 8,234 14,836 
		
	
	
		Average fruit and vegetable portion consumption for children, by gender England2001 to 2003
		
			  Boys Girls All children 
		
		
			 Children aged 5 to 15
			 2001 2.4 2.6 2.5 
			 2002 2.5 2.6 2.6 
			 2003 2.4 2.6 2.5 
			 
			 Bases (weighted)
			 2001 1,498 1,560 3,058 
			 2002 3,367 3,236 6,603 
			 2003 1,301 1,342 2,643 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Because the selection of children is limited to two per family, figures and bases for children have been weighted to compensate for the non-selection of other children in families of three or more.
	2. One portion of fruit or vegetables is 80 grams.
	Source:
	Health Survey for England 2001fruit and vegetable consumption. Data can be found in trend tables AD13_FV and CH8_FV on the Department's website at:
	http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/PublishedSurve y/HealthSurveyForEngland/HealthSurvevResults/HealthSurvey ResultsArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4098913chk=4DPdlh

East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the replacement of the chief executive of the East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust.

Caroline Flint: The appointment of chief executives in the national health service is a matter for individual trusts subject to NHS terms and conditions of employment.
	Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority has advised that a new chief executive of East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust was appointed on a one year rolling contract which commenced on 10 October this year.

Food Standards Agency

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints have been received by the Food Standards Agency concerning adverse effects of aspartame in each year since 2000 and what percentage this represents of the total number of complaints received in each year by the Food Standards Agency.

Caroline Flint: Since 2000, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has received a total of 20 complaints concerning adverse effects related to aspartame consumption. A breakdown of the number of complaints that were received each year is shown in table 1.
	
		Table 1: Number of complaints (aspartame consumption) 200005
		
			  Number received 
		
		
			 2000 1 
			 2001 1 
			 2002 2 
			 2003 8 
			 2004 4 
			 2005 4 
		
	
	The FSA also received a total of 151 complaints through the additives survivors network (ASN) in the form of standard letters/proforma during a campaign by the network during a period between 2000 and 2001. A breakdown of the number of complaints that were received each year is shown in table 2.
	
		Table 2: Number of complaints received from ASN 200005
		
			  Number received 
		
		
			 2000 140 
			 2001 11 
			 2002 0 
			 2003 0 
			 2004 0 
			 2005 0 
		
	
	The FSA also receives general correspondence on aspartame. Total complaints received by the FSA address a number of issues, both food and non-food related, and are dealt accordingly by relevant policy divisions in the FSA. A record of correspondence of this nature is not held centrally by the FSA.

Genitourinary Clinics

Chris McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on progress towards the 48 hour appointment target for genitourinary clinics by 2008.

Caroline Flint: The latest data published by the Health Protection Agency shows that 45 per cent. of patients are seen within 48 hours at genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics. Primary care trusts and strategic health authorities have already developed plans on how they will meet the target of 48 hour access through the local delivery planning process. To support this, the Department is investing an additional 130 million for GUM services and infrastructure in 200607 and 200708 to enable clinics to expand their services and reduce waiting times. An additional 15 million capital funding has also been recently allocated.

Health Services (Leeds)

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the services provided by Leeds primary care trusts; how many staff are employed to provide each service; and what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of these services.

Liam Byrne: The table shows how many staff are employed within the Leeds primary care trusts (PCTs) as at 30 September 2004. In the 200405 performance review by the Healthcare Commission, the Leeds PCTs received the following ratings:
	
		
			  Star rating 
		
		
			 East Leeds PCT 1 
			 Leeds North East PCT 2 
			 Leeds North West PCT 1 
			 Leeds West PCT 1 
			 South Leeds PCT 1 
		
	
	
		Hospital, public health medicine, community health services (HCHS) doctors, general medical practitioners, HCHS qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff and GP practice nurses within Leeds PCTs, as at 30 September 2004
		
			 Number (headcount) 
			  East Leeds PCT Leeds North East PCT Leeds North West PCT Leeds West PCT South Leeds PCT 
		
		
			 All Staff 557 368 421 264 348 
			 Of which:  
			   
			 All doctors 151 126 145 70 126 
			 Of which:  
			 HCHS doctors(17) 42 2 4 4 30 
			 General medical practitioners(18) 109 124 141 66 96 
			   
			 Nurses 406 242 276 194 222 
			 Of which:  
			 Qualified nursing midwifery and health visiting staff 354 178 208 149 173 
			 GP practice nurses 52 64 68 45 49 
		
	
	(17) Excludes medical hospital practitioners and medical clinical assistants, most of whom are GPs working part-time in hospitals.
	(18) General medical practitioners includes contracted GPs, general medical service (GMS) others, personal medical service (PMS) others, GP retainers and GP registrars. Prior to September 2004, this group included GMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs, PMS salaried GPs, restricted principals, assistants, GP retainers, GP registrars, salaried doctors (Para 52 SFA), PMS other, flexible career scheme GPs and GP returners.
	Sources:
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre GMS and PMS statistics.
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre medical and dental workforce census.
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre non-medical workforce census.

Herceptin (Devon and Cornwall)

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the estimated cost is of the decision by Devon and Cornwall primary care trusts to fund Herceptin for early stage cancer.

Caroline Flint: Information on the estimated cost of the decision by Devon and Cornwall primary care trusts (PCTs) to fund Herceptin for early stage breast cancer is not collected centrally. We are already putting record amounts of new investment into the national health servicebetween 2003 and 2008 NHS expenditure in England will increase on average by 7.5 per cent. each year. It is for PCTs to decide how best to spend these resources taking into account local priorities.
	PCTs have many competing priorities but cancer is a national and local priority. Every PCT will have a sizeable number of people in their area who will be diagnosed with the disease each year. PCTs will need to ensure that they allocate sufficient resource to meet their local contribution to tackling cancer care or other areas.
	It may be appropriate in some circumstances for patients to be prescribed an unlicensed drug such as Herceptin. However, this should be the exception and not the rule because the licensing process is there to protect patient safety. Such decisions need to be taken following discussions with patients to ensure they are aware of the potential risks.

Hospital Closures

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many items of correspondence her Department has received objecting to the plans to close the Walnuttree and St. Leonard's hospitals in Sudbury.

Rosie Winterton: As at 14 October 2005, the Department had received a total of 5,287 items of correspondence relating to this matter.

Hospital Treatments

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) NHS and (b) private (i) in-patient procedures and (ii) out-patient consultations were carried out in each of the hospitals managed by the Leeds NHS Teaching Hospital Trust in the past five years, broken down by specialty.

Liam Byrne: Information showing the number of national health service and private in-patient procedures carried out by the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust between 19992000 and 200304 has been placed in the Library.
	Information showing the number of NHS and private out-patient consultations at the trust is available on the Department's website at: www.performance.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivitv/data_requests/outpatient_attendances.htm.

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many copies of the Review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act, A Public Consultation have been produced; at what cost; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  which organisations were sent copies of the Review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act, A Public Consultation; how many were sent to each; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  for what reasons her Department chose 16 August to publish the Review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act, A Public Consultation; and if she will make a statement;
	(4)  if she will place in the Library responses to the Review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act, A Public Consultation; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The consultation document was published as soon as it was ready, taking account of the wider timetable of Government announcements and the need to respond to the Science and Technology Committee's report on Human Reproductive Technologies and the Law. In producing the consultation document, account was taken of a wide range of views and opinions, including the oral and written evidence submitted to the Science and Technology Committee's year-long inquiry, reaction to the Committee's recommendations, and issues raised over a number of years about the regulation of assisted reproduction and embryology.
	In order to encourage a wide range of responses to the consultation, copies of the document have been made available in variety of ways, including by viewing or downloading from the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk/consulations/fs/en, or by request from the Department's publications order line on 08710 555 455. Copies have also been issued by the Department directly to key stakeholders and other people and organisations who have expressed an interest in the review. This variety of ways of access means that it is not possible to say exactly which organisations have received the document.
	3,020 copies of the document have been printed, at a cost of 9,395. After the consultation, we will place a copy of the responses in the Library.

Mayday Health Trust

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects Mayday Health Trust to sign contracts for the construction of Purley Hospital.

Jane Kennedy: Mayday Healthcare National Health Service Trust, on behalf of the NHS partners in the scheme, is currently negotiating with the commercial developers. Although no date has yet been set for contract signing, the trust remains committed to progressing the project.

NHS Commissioning

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  on what basis the budgets to be delegated from primary care trusts to commissioning GP practices under practice-based commissioning will be determined;
	(2)  if she will provide a definition of the maximum and the minimum responsibilities GP practices will be able to take on under practice-based commissioning.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 17 October 2005
	Indicative commissioning budgets for practices or localities are decided at a local level through discussions between the primary care trust (PCT) and the individual practice or locality.
	There is no nationally agreed set of maximum or minimum responsibilities. Instead, commissioning responsibilities are agreed between the practice and the appropriate PCT.

NHS Commissioning

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received on the length of the consultation period on Commissioning a Patient-Led NHS.

Liam Byrne: Strategic health authorities are expected to submit proposals for local commissioning arrangements to the Department by 15 October. The Department, and an external panel representing key interests, will consider, against a set of criteria published on 28 July, whether the proposals can go forward for full, statutory, local consultation, lasting for three months, to begin before the end of the year. Decisions will be taken in the light of that three-month consultation period.

NHS Continuing Care

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department is taking to standardise the eligibility criteria for NHS continuing care used by strategic health authorities.

Liam Byrne: The Department is currently working with the strategic health authorities and stakeholders to produce a national approach to continuing care. This is expected to improve consistency and ease of understanding of the system, resulting in a single set of national eligibility criteria and a suitable assessment process for access to NHS Continuing Care, which we expect to publish early in 2006.

NHS Finance (Gloucestershire)

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the financial position of NHS trusts in Gloucestershire.

Jane Kennedy: In 200405 11 out of the 13 national health service trusts covered by Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority achieved financial balance. The remaining two NHS trusts reported a deficit.

NHS Services (Pudsey)

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) doctors and (b) nurses were employed by the NHS in health facilities serving Pudsey in (i) 1997, (ii) 2001 and (iii) 2004.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Hospital, public health medicine, community health services (HCHS) doctors, general medical practitioners, HCHS qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff and GP practice nurses for selected organisations, as at 1997, 2001 and 2004
		
			 Numbers (headcount) 
			  East Leeds Primary Care Trust (PCT) Leeds Community and Mental Health Service Teaching National Health Service Trust Leeds Health Authority Leeds North East PCT Leeds North West PCT 
		
		
			 1997  
			 All staff (19) 1,560 734 (19) (19) 
			 Of which  
			 All doctors (19) 160 464 (19) (19) 
			 Of which  
			 HCHS doctors(20) (19) 160 21 (19) (19) 
			 General medical practitioners (excluding retainers) (19) (19) 443 (19) (19) 
			   
			 Nurses (19) 1,400 270 (19) (19) 
			 Of which  
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff (19) 1,400 7 (19) (19) 
			 GP practice nurses (19) (19) 263 (19) (19) 
			   
			 2001  
			 All staff 157 1,726 23 160 175 
			 Of which  
			 All doctors 100 210 14 102 117 
			 Of which  
			 HCHS doctors(20) (19) 210 14 (19) (19) 
			 General medical practitioners (excluding retainers) 100 (19) (19) 102 117 
			   
			 Nurses 57 1,516 9 58 58 
			 Of which  
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff (19) 1,516 9 (19) (19) 
			 GP practice nurses 57 (19) (19) 58 58 
			   
			 2004  
			 All staff 554 997 (19) 359 417 
			 Of which  
			 All doctors 148 177 (19) 117 141 
			 Of which  
			 HCHS doctors(20) 42 177 (19) 2 4 
			 General medical practitioners (excluding retainers) 106 (19) (19) 115 137 
			   
			 Nurses 406 820 (19) 242 276 
			 Of which  
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 354 820 (19) 178 208 
			 GP practice nurses 52 (19) (19) 64 68 
		
	
	
		
			  Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Leeds West PCT South Leeds PCT United Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust West Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service 
		
		
			 1997  
			 All staff (19) (19) (19) 3,053 (19) 
			 Of which  
			 All doctors (19) (19) (19) 695 (19) 
			 Of which  
			 HCHS doctors(20) (19) (19) (19) 695 (19) 
			 General medical practitioners (excluding retainers) (19) (19) (19) (19) (19) 
			   
			 Nurses (19) (19) (19) 2,358 (19) 
			 Of which  
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff (19) (19) (19) 2,358 (19) 
			 GP practice nurses (19) (19) (19) (19) (19) 
			   
			 2001  
			 All staff 5,781 96 133 (19) 88 
			 Of which  
			 All doctors 1,310 62 86 (19) (19) 
			 Of which  
			 HCHS doctors(20) 1,310 (19) (19) (19) (19) 
			 General medical practitioners (excluding retainers) (19) 62 86 (19) (19) 
			   
			 Nurses 4,471 (19) 47 (19) 88 
			 Of which  
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 4,471 34 (19) (19) 88 
			 GP practice nurses (19) 34 47 (19) (19) 
			   
			 2004  
			 All staff 6,376 264 347 (19) 6 
			 Of which  
			 All doctors 1,588 70 125 (19) (19) 
			 Of which  
			 HCHS doctors(20) 1,588 4 30 (19) (19) 
			 General medical practitioners (excluding retainers) (19) 66 95 (19) (19) 
			   
			 Nurses 4,788 194 222 (19) 6 
			 Of which  
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 4,788 149 173 (19) 6 
			 GP practice nurses (19) 45 49 (19) (19) 
		
	
	(19) Denotes data not applicable.
	(20) Excludes medical hospital practitioners and medical clinical assistants, most of whom are GPs working part-time in hospitals, personal medical service (PMS) salaried GPs, restricted principals, assistants, GP registrars, salaried doctors (Para 52 SFA), PMS other, flexible career scheme GPs and GP returners.
	Note:
	All data as at 30 September, except 1997 GP and practice nurse data which is as at 1 October.
	Sources:
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre GMS and PMS statistics.
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre medical and dental workforce census.
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre non-medical workforce census.

NHS Structure (Essex)

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has for reorganisation of the NHS organisational structures in Essex.

Liam Byrne: First ideas for a stronger local national health service in Essex have been developed locally by Essex Strategic Health Authority in collaboration with partner organisations and stakeholder groups.
	These plans have now been submitted to the Department. After initial assessments, all options for the reorganisation of the NHS in Essex (and indeed all other areas) shall be subject to a full, statutory public consultation. No decisions on the final form of new NHS structures will be taken until after these consultations have been completed.

Obesity

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on obesity management in the NHS in each of the last five years.

Caroline Flint: Information on the amount spent by the national health service on obesity management is not held centrally. However, the National Audit Office report, Tackling Obesity in England, published in 2001, estimated that the direct cost to the NHS of treating obesity and its consequences in 1998 was 480 million. As part of its inquiry into obesity, the Health Select Committee estimated that in 2002 the direct cost to the NHS was between 990 million and 1,225 million.

Out-patient Appointments (Gravesham)

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was in the last three years for an out-patient appointment in Gravesham.

Caroline Flint: The estimated average time waited for first out-patient appointment following general practitioner written referrals for Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley primary care trust (commissioner based) is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Quarter ended (June) Median (weeks) 
		
		
			 2003 7.9 
			 2004 7.9 
			 2005 6.9 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health form QM08R

Paediatric Nurses

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average age of paediatric nurses employed in the national health service has been in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		National health service hospital and community health services: qualified paediatric nursing in England by level and average age as at 30 September each specified year
		
			 Headcount 
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Average age of qualified paediatric nursing staff 37 38 39 39 39 41 41 41 
			 Nurse consultant n/a n/a n/a n/a 38 43 45 44 
			 Nurse manager 41 42 42 42 44 44 44 44 
			 Registered sick children's nurse 34 35 36 36 36 36 36 36 
			 Other 1st level 34 35 36 36 36 37 36 37 
			 Other 2nd level 39 40 41 41 42 44 42 43 
		
	
	n/a = not available
	Notes:
	1. Nurse consultant figures are unavailable prior to 2001.
	2. Average ages are rounded to the nearest whole number.
	Source:
	Health and Social Care Information Centre non-medical workforce census.

Patient Records

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent by the Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals Trust on sending confidential patient records to South Africa for processing.

Caroline Flint: We are aware of reports that Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals National Health Service Trust currently employ a South African company to type up medical notes.
	It is the responsibility of local NHS clinicians and managers to ensure the confidentiality of patient information in these, as in all other circumstances.
	Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority has advised that the trust has followed guidelines published by the information commissioner and the European Union relating to the transfer of personal data outside the EU.

Pregnancy Health

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are in place to help pregnant women who (a) smoke and (b) are addicted to drugs; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Midwives provide the majority of care for pregnant mothers as well as advice and support on healthy lifestyles including smoking and drug misuse.
	The Government aim to reach pregnant smokers through the ongoing partners education campaign, which provides information about smoking, the benefits to the health of both mother and baby in quitting, and how partners and families can provide support.
	The national health service stop smoking services were allocated an additional 6 million in 200102 to 200203 to target smoking in pregnancy and to provide specialist advisers to help pregnant smokers to quit. Pregnant women can also access our free, dedicated helpline for all smokers on 0800 169 0 169 and the specific helpline for pregnant women smokers on 0800 169 9 169. Local services are expected to liaise with Sure Start to ensure the most effective delivery of service to the women who need it most.
	Drug misuse among pregnant women is identified through ante-natal care from their midwife or local general practitioner. Where identified, an assessment is carried out and the appropriate treatment and support arranged both during and post pregnancy. To deliver high quality care services for pregnant drug users, there is a co-ordinated approach between drug services, maternity services and children's health and social care services. Pregnant women are a vulnerable group as far as drugs misuse is concerned and where appropriate will be given top priority.
	Obstetric departments are advised to develop good links with local drug specialists and GPs and the local social services. All local statutory authorities should have a written policy about drug misusing parents and all professionals involved should be aware of this policy.

Pressure Sores

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether her Department has achieved its 5 per cent. per annum target for reduction of pressure sores.

Liam Byrne: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 10 October 2005, Official Report, column 231W

Progress Educational Trust

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what criteria were used in selecting the Progress Educational Trust to conduct an online consultation on behalf of the Department of Health as part of its review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology ActA Public Consultation; how much funding has been allocated to the Trust for this purpose; and when she expects to receive the results;
	(2)  what assessment she made of possible conflict of interest for the Progress Educational Trust in asking it to conduct an online consultation on behalf of her Department as part of its review of Human Fertilisation and Embryology ActA Public Consultation;
	(3)  which organisations were considered in deciding who should conduct an online consultation on behalf of her Department as part of its review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology ActA Public Consultation.

Caroline Flint: The Department launched a public consultation on the review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 on 16 August 2005. The closing date for responses is 25 November 2005. The Department is keen to receive responses from as many individuals and organisations as possible. In order to encourage this we have set up an online consultation response facility on the Department's website. We have not asked anyone to conduct this online consultation on behalf of the Department.
	Progress Educational Trust is a voluntary organisation which aims to increase public awareness and engagement on issues in assisted reproduction and human genetics. Progress has applied for, and been awarded, a number of grants through the Department's scheme of grants for voluntary sector organisations, known as Section 64 funding. Progress is currently in receipt of 11,210 to host an online discussion forum to encourage public discussion and debate on the issues raised by the Government's review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990.

Smoking

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her estimate is of the percentage of (a) males and (b) females between the ages of 16 and 19 years in England who are regular smokers.

Caroline Flint: The information requested is shown in the table. This is the most recent data available.
	
		Percentage of smokers between the ages of 16 and 19, by genderEngland 2003
		
			 Percentage/Number 
			  Prevalence Unweighted base Weighted base (000) Unweighted base 
		
		
			 Male 26 400 1,025 400 
			 Female 24 384 981 384 
			 Total 25 784 2,006 784 
		
	
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics
	General Household Survey 200304

Struck-off Doctors

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors have been struck-off by the General Medical Council since 2001.

Jane Kennedy: The collection of this information is not a Government responsibility and therefore it is not available centrally. I suggest the hon. Member writes to the General Medical Council, St. James's Buildings, 79 Oxford Street, Manchester M1 6FQ for the information requested.

Students (Alcohol Consumption)

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of university students who consume alcohol on a (a) daily and (b) weekly basis.

Caroline Flint: The number of university students who consume alcohol on a daily and weekly basis is shown in table one.
	
		Table 1: Students drinking days last week, England 2003
		
			 Drinking days last week University students All adults 
		
		
			 0 days 35 33 
			 1 day 20 19 
			 2 days 18 14 
			 3 days 11 10 
			 4 days 4 6 
			 5 days 6 4 
			 6 days 3 3 
			 7 days 4 11 
			 Bases   
			 Weighted (000) 811 35,307 
			 Unweighted 315 14,996 
		
	
	The number of university students who consume alcohol on a weekly basis is shown in table two.
	
		Table 2: Students drinking last week, England 2003
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 University Students 65 
			 All adults 67 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. University students are defined as follows:
	(a) students studying at a university or college including sixth form college
	(b) training for a qualification in nursing, physiotherapy, or a or a similar medical subject.
	(c) on a part-time course at university or college including day release and block release
	2. The General Household Survey collects information from people living in private households. It does not cover students living in halls of residence.
	3. The drinking answers were obtained from the following question about drinking days:
	Ask if respondent has had an alcoholic drink in the last week.
	On how many days out of the last seven did you have an alcoholic drink?
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics 200304 General Household Survey.

Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many acute beds have been closed in the current year in each hospital trust within the Surrey and Sussex Health Authority area.

Caroline Flint: The information requested is shown in the table. These are the net changes in bed numbers by typecomparing 200304 and 200405. This is at trust level and includes figures for non acute trusts.
	
		Acute bed closuresSurrey and Sussex Health Authority
		
			 Organisation name 200304 200405 Change 
		
		
			 Surrey and Sussex SHA 4,931 4,748 -183 
			 
			 Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals National Health Service Trust 560 561 1 
			 Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust 944 863 -81 
			 East Elmbridge and Mid Surrey Primary Care Trust (PCT) 0 19 19 
			 East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust 695 697 2 
			 Frimley Park Hospital NHS Trust 468 481 13 
			 Guildford and Waverley PCT 54 54 0 
			 North Surrey PCT 8 8 0 
			 Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Trust 400 409 9 
			 Royal West Sussex NHS Trust 498 445 -53 
			 South Downs Health NHS Trust 52 52 0 
			 Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust 593 535 -58 
			 Surrey Heath and Woking PCT 12 12 0 
			 Sussex Downs and Weald PCT 105 80 -25 
			 The Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Trust 75 74 -1 
			 Western Sussex PCT 57 45 -12 
			 Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust 409 412 3

Tuberculosis

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the programme for vaccinations against tuberculosis.

Caroline Flint: The joint committee on vaccination and immunisation, an independent expert group that advises the Department, has been reviewing the BCG vaccination policy for a number of years.
	Based on this group's recommendations, the Chief Medical Officer announced on 6 July that the current Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination programme in the United Kingdom would change, away from the universal vaccination through the schools BCG programme to a selective vaccination of high risk infants and other groups.
	This decision has brought the UK in line with the recommendation of the World Health Organization and BCG programmes across much of the rest of the world.

Tuberculosis

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many incidences of tuberculosis there were in each local health authority in each of the past five years.

Caroline Flint: Information on the incidences of tuberculosis recorded by local authorities in each of the five years has been placed in the Library.

Ulcerative Colitis/Crohn's Disease

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department is taking to draw up guidelines on treatments and standards of care for individuals suffering from (a) ulcerative colitis and (b) Crohn's disease.

Liam Byrne: We have no plans to draw up guidelines for the treatment of those suffering from ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
	The standards for health and social care for such sufferers are covered by the national service framework for long-term conditions, published on 10 March 2005, and Supporting People with Long-term ConditionsAn NHS and Social Care Model to support innovation and integration published on 5 January 2005.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Access Officers

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make the appointment of access officers by local authorities mandatory; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: Local authorities are already subject to duties under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 not to discriminate against disabled people in employment or the provision of services, and amendments made by the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 will ensure that all the activities of public authorities are covered by the 1995 Act. These duties include the need to make positive adjustments to ensure disabled people are not less favourably treated.
	The 2005 Act also places new duties on public authorities requiring them actively to promote equality of opportunity for disabled people. By December 2006, local authorities and other listed public authorities will be required to publish Disability Equality Schemes setting out how they will implement this new duty. It will be mandatory to involve disabled people in determining an authority's priorities and action plan, but the Government do not believe it is right to specify in legislation the particular actions to be taken by authorities in order to promote equality of opportunity. This is because the implementation of the duty will maximise the inclusion of disabled people only if it fully reflects local circumstances and the priorities of local disabled people.
	The Disability Rights Commission will issue guidance to assist authorities in developing action plans that genuinely address the needs of disabled people and will oversee and enforce the implementation of the duty to ensure authorities are taking the actions required of them.

Carer's Allowance

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total cost of the carer's allowance was in each of the past 10 years; how many people received the carer's allowance in each year; and what the average received was.

Anne McGuire: The information is in the following tables.
	
		Table 1: Invalid care allowance/carer's allowance
		
			  Expenditure ( million) Case load(21) (Thousand) Average weekly amount () 
		
		
			 199596 618 308 37.2 
			 199697 738 349 38.7 
			 199798 748 371 39.6 
			 199899 786 373 41.4 
			 19992000 825 375 43.1 
			 200001 854 376 43.5 
			 200102 932 391 44.8 
			 200203 995 408 45.1 
			 200304 1,051 428 45.6 
			 200405 1,102 444 45.9 
		
	
	(21) Case load includes suspended cases, cases that are not in receipt of payment because their entitlement is under investigation.
	
		Table 2: Invalid care allowance/carer's allowance
		
			  Expenditure ( million) Case load(22) (Thousand) Average weekly amount () 
		
		
			 200203 995 397,000 45.1 
			 200304 1,051 416,000 45.6 
			 200405 1,102 432,000 45.9 
		
	
	(22) Case load excludes suspended cases. Case load estimates on this basis are not available prior to 200203.
	Notes:
	1. The average weekly amount is rounded to the nearest ten pence.
	2. The case load estimates and average weekly amounts are financial year averages and derived from quarterly statistical data extracts. Figures for the years 19992000 and 200001 are estimated due to lack of suitable information.
	3. The case load estimates exclude cases where an allowance is not paid despite entitlement due to the overlapping benefit rules.
	4. The expenditure figures until 200304 are out-turn while the figure for 200405 is estimated out-turn. The expenditure figures are based on data from the departmental accounting systems.
	5. The case load and average weekly amounts, when grossed up to annual totals do not precisely match the expenditure. This is because the statistical data have only five snapshots which are used to estimate annual averages. Furthermore, these snapshots fail to capture a number of new cases that are in process at any point time.
	6. The figures quoted are marginally different to those previously published due to methodological changes and some minor adjustments.

Child Maintenance

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many families received child maintenance payments in Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk constituency in (a) 200203, (b) 200304 and (c) 200405; and if he will make a statement.

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many families received child maintenance payments in Hornsey and Wood Green constituency in (a) 200203, (b) 200304 and (c) 200405; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The information requested is not available at constituency level.

Child Support Agency

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the compliance rate for Child Support Agency cases for each quarter from 200001 to 200506; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Stephen Geraghty. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Stephen Geraghty to Mr. David Laws, dated 25 October 2005
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his estimate is of the compliance rate for Child Support Agency cases for each quarter from 200001 to 200506; and if he will make a statement.
	The Agency has two measures of compliance. The case compliance rate is the percentage of cases for which a payment has been received, out of all of the cases for which a payment was due in a given period. The cash compliance rate is the percentage of the total amount of maintenance due to be paid in a given period which has actually been paid.
	Information regarding the case and cash compliance rates is in the tables which I have enclosed with this letter.
	I hope you find this information helpful.
	
		Case compliance
		
			 Percentage 
			 Quarter-ending New scheme case compliance All old scheme case compliance Overall agency case compliance 
		
		
			 2000
			 June (23) 71 71 
			 September (23) 71 71 
			 December (23) 72 72 
			 
			 2001
			 March (23) 72 72 
			 June (23) 72 72 
			 September (23) 73 73 
			 December (23) 73 73 
			 
			 2002
			 March (23) 74 74 
			 June (23) 75 75 
			 September (23) 76 76 
			 December (23) 76 76 
			 
			 2003
			 March (24) (24) (24) 
			 June (24) (24) (24) 
			 September (24) (24) (24) 
			 December (24) (24) (24) 
			 
			 2004
			 March (24) (24) (24) 
			 June 61 73 71 
			 September 62 73 70 
			 December 64 72 70 
			 
			 2005
			 March 66 72 70 
		
	
	
		Cash compliance
		
			 Percentage 
			 Quarter-ending New scheme cash compliance All old scheme cash compliance Overall agency cash compliance 
		
		
			 2000
			 June (23) 69 69 
			 September (23) 70 70 
			 December (23) 69 69 
			 
			 2001
			 March (23) 71 71 
			 June (23) 71 71 
			 September (23) 70 70 
			 December (23) 70 70 
			 2002
			 March (23) 74 74 
			 June (23) 71 71 
			 September (23) 73 73 
			 December (23) 74 74 
			 
			 2003
			 March (24) (24) (24) 
			 June (24) (24) (24) 
			 September (24) (24) (24) 
			 December (24) (24) (24) 
			 
			 2004
			 March (24) (24) (24) 
			 June 50 71 68 
			 September 52 70 66 
			 December 55 70 67 
			 
			 2005
			 March 61 73 70 
		
	
	(23) The new scheme has been in operation since March 2003, so data prior to this date is purely old scheme information and therefore overall Agency compliance by virtue of being the sole source of data.
	(24) New scheme data, and that for old scheme on the new IT system, for the period March 2003 to March 2004 is not robust therefore it has been excluded. It is hoped that this will be available in the near future.
	n/a = not available.
	Notes:
	1. Case compliance is measured on a rolling-last-quarter basis for both schemes as this best demonstrates performance.
	2. Cash compliance is measured on a three-month rolling average basis as this best demonstrates performance.

Child Support Agency

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of the backlog of uncleared Child Support Agency cases for each quarter from March 2001 to July 2005 in (a) Scotland and (b) the Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk constituency; and if he will make a statement.

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of the backlog of uncleared Child Support Agency cases for each quarter from March 2001 to August 2005 in Hornsey and Wood Green constituency; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The information requested is not available for Scotland or at constituency level.

Child Support Agency

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints originating from Scotland have been received by the Child Support Agency in each year since 1997; how many went forward for adjudication; how many have been (a) fully and (b) partially upheld; and if he will make a statement.

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints have been received by the Child Support Agency in each year since 1999, broken down by originating London borough; how many went forward for adjudication; how many have been (a) fully and (b) partially upheld; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The information requested is not available for Scotland or at London borough or constituency level.

Child Support Agency

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the impact of IR591 on the levels of child maintenance being paid through the Child Support Agency by non-resident parents whose main source of income is from self-employment.

James Plaskitt: No assessment has been made on the impact of IR591 for child support maintenance purposes.
	This is because IR591 partly relates to the Corporation Tax liability of limited companies who distribute some of their profits to shareholders instead of reinvesting it in the business. A non-resident parent who works for their own limited company will be an employee of that company (usually a director) and will not be self-employed. Child Support will only be interested in the earned income of that non-resident parent, and not in the profits (and associated Corporation Tax liability) made by that company.

Child Support Agency

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many former Child Support Agency employees were awarded compensation from employment tribunals in (a) 200203, (b) 200304, (c) 200405 and (d) 200506.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 24 October 2005
	The Child Support Agency's human resource records on employment tribunals only go as far as the third quarter of the operational year 200304 (beginning 1 October 2003) and extends to the second quarter of the current year (ending 30 September 2005).
	According to the Agency's records during this period 1 October 2004 to 30 September 2005 only one former employee of the Agency has been awarded compensation as a direct result of an employment tribunal.

Disability Benefit

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) women and (b) men are claiming disability benefit in (i) the Tees Valley and (ii) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency.

Anne McGuire: The administration of disability living allowance and attendance allowance is a matter for the chief executive of the Disability and Carers Service, Mr Terry Moran. He will write to my hon. Friend with the information requested.
	Letter from Terry Moran to Dr. Ashok Kumar, dated 25 October 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me, as Chief Executive of the Disability and Carers Service, to reply to your question concerning how many women and men are claiming disability benefit in the Tees Valley and Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency.
	The information requested is as follows:
	
		Disability living allowance and attendance allowance by gender in the Tees Valley at 28 February 2005
		
			 Thousand 
			  Disability living allowance Attendance allowance 
			  All Male Female All Male Female 
		
		
			 Tees Valley 39.4 20.5 18.9 15.5 5.0 10.5 
			
			 Darlington 5.1 2.8 2.4 2.4 0.7 1.7 
			 Hartlepool 6.3 3.2 3.1 2.3 0.8 1.5 
			 Middlesbrough 9.5 5.0 4.6 3.3 1.1 2.1 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 8.8 4.4 4.4 3.6 1.2 2.4 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 9.7 5.1 4.6 3.9 1.1 2.7 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Cases where payment of benefit has been suspended are excluded.
	2. Numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred and are expressed in thousands.
	3. Totals may not sum due to founding.
	4. Numbers are based on a 5 per cent. sample, and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.
	5. Numbers marked * are based on a very few sample cases and are subject to a high degree of sampling variation. These figures should be used as a guide to the current situation only.
	6. Local authorities are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant postcode directory.
	7. From November 2002, the methodology for producing these figures was changed to allow statistics to be published much sooner. This has resulted in a small increase in the reported caseload. This is because some cases which have actually terminated but have not yet been updated on the computer system are now included.
	
		Disability living allowance and attendance allowance, by gender, in the parliamentary constituency of Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland at February 2005
		
			 Thousand 
			  Disability living allowance Attendance allowance 
			  All Male Female All Male Female 
		
		
			 Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland 5.3 2.9 2.4 2.2 0.7 1.5 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. A small number of claimants may be getting both AA and DLA.
	2. Numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred and are expressed in thousands.
	3. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
	4. Numbers are based on a 5 per cent. sample, and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.
	5. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant postcode directory.
	6. Cases where payment of benefit has been suspended are excluded.
	7. From November 2002, the methodology for producing these figures was changed to allow statistics to be published much sooner. This has resulted in a small increase in the reported caseload. This is because some cases which have actually terminated but have not yet been updated on the computer system are now included.
	Source:
	DWP, Information Centre (IFD), 5 per cent. data
	I hope this is helpful.

Disability Benefit

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications for disability living allowance have been rejected in each of the last five years for which records are available.

Anne McGuire: The information is in the table.
	
		Disability living allowance: Number of new claims disallowed in Great Britain in each year from 200105
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2001 196,885 
			 2002 194,605 
			 2003 215,135 
			 2004 234,180 
			 2005 149,730 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The figures taken from the Management Information System (MIS) computer system and are rounded to the nearest five. Those for 2001 to 2004 are for calendar years (January to December), and those for 2005 are for the period from January 2005 to August 2005.
	2. The figures are for new claims disallowed and do not reflect any changes to the outcome of those claims resulting from any subsequent reconsideration or appeal.
	Source:
	Department for Work and Pensions, Information Centre, 100 per cent. data.

Disability Benefit

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many disability living allowance applications have been (a) approved, (b) rejected and (c) approved subject to a reduction in components (on increase) in (i) 2004 and (ii) 2005.

Anne McGuire: The available information is in the table.
	
		Disability living allowance: numbers of new claims allowed and disallowed; numbers of awards reduced, increased or varied on supersession, revision or appeal; and numbers of renewal claims in which the award was lower or higher or varied from the award made on a previous claim in Great Britain in 2004 and 2005(25)
		
			  2004 2005 
		
		
			 New claims allowed 210,095 132,550 
			 New claims disallowed 234,180 149,730 
			 Awards reduced on supersession or revision 3,100 1,810 
			 Awards increased on supersession or revision 54,205 35,105 
			 Awards varied on supersession or revision 10,070 4,230 
			 Awards reduced by an Appeal Tribunal 215 130 
			 Award increased by an Appeal Tribunal 9,550 6,290 
			 Awards varied by an Appeal Tribunal 500 230 
			 Awards on renewal claims which were lower than the award made on a previous claim 30,305 22,430 
			 Awards on renewal claims which were higher than the award made on a previous claim 14,405 9,660 
			 Awards on renewal claims which varied from the award made on a previous claim 37,605 21,740 
		
	
	(25) Figures for 2004 are for the calendar year (January to December), and those for 2005 are for the period from January 2005 to August 2005.
	Notes:
	1. The figures are taken from the Management Information System (MIS) computer system and are rounded to the nearest 5.
	2. The figures are for new claims allowed or disallowed and do not reflect any changes to the outcome of those claims resulting from any subsequent supersession, revision or appeal.
	3. Supersessions normally occur where there has been a change of circumstances since the date the award was made and a different decision is now appropriate.
	4. Revision refers to the change of an award because it is accepted that the award was incorrect.
	5. Reduced awards are those in which the rate of benefit payable is reduced, or the length of the award is reduced, or both on supersession, revision, appeal or following a renewal claim.
	6. Increased awards are those in which the rate of benefit payable is increased on supersession, revision, appeal or following a renewal claim.
	7. Varied awards are those in which either (a) entitlement to the care and mobility components of disability living allowance is changed on supersession, revision, appeal or following a renewal claim, but this does not result in any change to the amount of the allowance paid; or (b) entitlement is not changed on supersession, revision, appeal or following a renewal claim, but the period of the award is increased, or in the case of renewal claims, the award is for a longer period than the award made on a previous claim.
	8. Renewal claims are new claims to disability living allowance made by people receiving the benefit when their existing award is coming to an end. These claims enable them to renew their entitlement to the benefit and, if they remain entitled, help ensure there is no break in payment.
	9. Awards reduced, increased or varied by Appeal Tribunals include awards made on new claims, on supersession and on revision.
	Source:
	Department for Work and Pensions, Information Centre, 100 per cent. data.

Employment Rights

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance he has given to local authorities on the preparation of policies relating to employment rights of those who become disabled during the course of their employment.

Anne McGuire: In accordance with the Disability Discrimination Act, the Secretary of State approves a statutory code of practice prepared by the Disability Rights Commission to provide practical guidance on the employment provisions in Part 2 of the Act. Last year the Commission published a revised Code of Practice on Employment and Occupation to take account of the extended employment provisions which came into force on 1 October 2004. Chapter 2 of that code provides advice on the types of issues which all employers, including local authorities, should consider when developing anti-discrimination policies and practices.

Incapacity Benefit

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people, broken down by gender, who have made applications for incapacity benefit in the last year have had their applications refused as a result of an incomplete contributions history.

Anne McGuire: Between March 2004 and February 2005 around 330,145 incapacity benefit claims were 'disallowed at outset', due to failing the contribution conditions. Information by gender is not available.

Incapacity Benefit

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the cost is of a domiciliary medical examination to assess claimants' eligibility for benefits;
	(2)  what criteria benefits claimants must fulfil to be granted a domiciliary medical examination to assess their eligibility for benefits; and what estimate he has made of the number of claimants who met this criteria in 200405;
	(3)  what provision Atos Origin has made in its budget for domiciliary medical examinations for benefits claimants.

Anne McGuire: Specific details of the cost of a domiciliary medical examination to assess claimants' eligibility for benefits and details of the provisions Atos Origin have made within its budget for domiciliary medical examinations are commercial in confidence and not disclosed.
	Atos Origin will undertake a domiciliary visit under the following conditions:
	when requested by the Department; or
	where the claimant's GP has indicated that the claimant is unable to travel on health grounds; or
	where the claimant has provided appropriate medical evidence which demonstrates he/she is unable to travel on health grounds; or
	where the contractor chooses to undertake a domiciliary visit where it is considered appropriate to support the delivery of a high quality service.
	In the period 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005 the total number of domiciliary visits carried out for all benefit examinations was 129,425.

Incapacity Benefit

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the monthly off-flow from incapacity benefits for each Jobcentre Plus district has been since January 2003, broken down by region.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 17 October 2005
	The information is not available in the format requested. The available information has been placed in the Library.

Incapacity Benefit

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have (a) requested and (b) been granted a domiciliary medical examination to assess their eligibility for benefits in each of the last four years.

Anne McGuire: Atos Origin Medical Services do not hold any details of the number of domiciliary visits requested.
	The total number of domiciliary medical examinations undertaken to assess claimants' eligibility for benefits is as follows:
	
		
			 As at 1 July to 30 June Number of domiciliary visits 
		
		
			 200405 129,425 
			 200304 206,546 
			 200203 240,506 
			 200102 266,672

Marginal Deduction Rates

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether it is possible for (a) a benefit recipient and (b) a recipient of both tax credits benefits administered by his Department to have a marginal deduction rate of over 100 per cent.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	Analysis underpinning the marginal deduction rates published in the DWP Tax Benefit Model Tables and also table 4.2 in recent Budget and pre-Budget reports reveal no meaningful cases where marginal deduction rates exceed 100 per cent.

Opinion Surveys

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the (a) subject matter and (b) dates were of opinion survey research undertaken by the Department and its agencies in the last 12 months; if he will place copies of the results of each survey in the Library; which companies were used in conducting the research; and how much each was paid.

James Plaskitt: The DWP conducts annual omnibus surveys to monitor public awareness of the Department and its responsibilities, and also public attitudes to the Government's welfare reform. Both pieces of research have been carried out during the last 12 months, the Omnibus Survey being conducted in January 2005 and Awareness Research taking place in March 2005. The cost for both pieces of work is 86,000. Mori conducted both surveys.
	Data from both surveys has been placed in the Library.

Pension Credit

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the total (a) overpayment and (b) underpayment of pension credit; how many people have been affected; and what the average amount of over or under payment has been.

Stephen Timms: Latest estimates are available for pension credit overpayments for the first six months following the launch of pension credit in October 2003. Of the 2.46 billion pension credit paid between October 2003 and March 2004, approximately 150 million was overpaid and 47 million underpaid. On average over this period 511,000 incorrect awards were in payment at any one time, with approximately half of these due to customer error. Overpayments were an average of approximately 15 per week and underpayments were an average of approximately 11 per week.
	The Department aims to recover overpayments of entitlement without causing undue hardship to the customer. If an overpayment has occurred there are a number of options the Department can take to recover the moneyincluding inviting the customer to repay on a voluntary basis, deductions from current benefits and in cases of fraud, civil proceedings. Each case is decided having regard to the particular circumstances of the customer.
	Notes:
	1. These figures are based on a sample of the pension credit caseload between October 2003 and March 2004 and are subject to sampling error.
	2. Overpayments and underpayments can be a result of official error, customer error or fraud.
	3. The sample of 2,500 cases used to calculate these figures is a snapshot of the pension credit caseload and does not track the progress of an award. Estimates of the average amount that a pension credit customer has been overpaid or underpaid during the life of their award, or of the total number of cases affected in the six month period as a whole, are not available.

Pension Credit

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent discussions he has had with the Pension Service on the use of pension credit payments under the Supporting People initiative to meet a proportion of service charges for pensioners living in sheltered accommodation.

Stephen Timms: Funding for the Supporting People Programme is provided for by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the devolved Administrations, through fixed grants to local authorities. The local authorities are responsible for planning, commissioning, inspecting, and funding services at the local level. Pension credit is a DWP benefit and does not fall under the Supporting People Programme.
	The Supporting People scheme provides funding arrangements for housing-related support services that had previously been paid through income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance and, principally, housing benefit. Guidance to Pension Service decision-makers emphasises the importance of identifying types of service charges for which people are liable to ensure that provision is made through the correct channel.

Sickness Absence

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many days the Department has lost due to sickness in the past five years for which figures are available.

Anne McGuire: The information is in the table.
	
		Table 1. Sickness absence information for DWP and theformer DSS
		
			 Department Year Average working days lost 
		
		
			 DSS 1999 10.9 
			 DSS 2000 11.0 
			 DWP 2001 11.1 
			 DWP 2002 10.8 
			 DWP 2003 11.6 
		
	
	The Department for Work and Pensions was created in June 2001. Due to migration of businesses into, and out of the newly forming Department, and differences in calculation methods, figures for the Department as a whole are only available from 2001. Information provided before this date relates to the former Department for Social Security (DSS), the main predecessor Department in place prior to the formation of DWP.
	The DWP is committed to reducing its levels of sick absence. The Department's managing attendance policy was subject to a recent review by the National Audit Office. Recommendations from the NAO report have been put in place, including a re- launch of the policy.

Special Advisers

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list (a) the special advisers in his Department, (b) their specific areas of expertise and (c) the total cost of employing them in the latest year for which figures are available.

Anne McGuire: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 July 2005, Official Report, column 162WS.

Winter Fuel Payment

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people received winter fuel payments in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK since their inception.

Stephen Timms: Information relating to the 199798 and 199899 winters is not available. The information from winter 19992000 is in the table. These figures are also available in the Library. Information on payments made in Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
	
		
			 Constituency/region Payments made 
		
		
			 Jarrow  
			 19992000 15,980 
			 200001 17,335 
			 200102 17,315 
			 200203 17,335 
			 200304 17,390 
			 200405 16,895 
			   
			 South Tyneside  
			 19992000 30,135 
			 200001 32,840 
			 200102 32,735 
			 200203 32,650 
			 200304 32,595 
			 200405 31,575 
			   
			 North East  
			 19992000 461,685 
			 200001 511,875 
			 200102 513,455 
			 200203 516,755 
			 200304 519,045 
			 200405 509,225 
			   
			 Great Britain  
			 19992000 10,084,130 
			 200001 11,105,745 
			 200102 11,201,895 
			 200203 11,348,040 
			 200304 11,468,235 
			 200405 11,401,170 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Data is taken at the specified dates.
	2. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
	3. Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	4. Local authorities and parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
	Source:
	Information Directorate, 100 per cent. Sample.

Public Sector Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the estimated total annual cost of all public sector pension schemes is for each year from 198889 to 200809; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: I have been asked to reply.
	Figures for Government spending on unfunded public service pensions that are included within Annually Managed Expenditure are published in table B.1 of the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2005 (PESA). That table covers 199900 to 200708; a comparable table for earlier years is not available. The PESA table includes payments in respect of transfers of liabilities within central Government as well as payments to pensioners. It does not include unfunded police and firefighter pensions paid by local authorities, which are included within line D.623 of Table 5.3.4S of the United Kingdom National Accountsthe Blue Book2005. Figures for spending on Local Government Pension Scheme benefits in England and Wales are available at:
	www.local.odpm.gov.uk/finance/stats/data/table1.pdf.
	Real terms figures can be calculated using GDP deflators found on HM Treasury's website:
	www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/economic_data_and_tools/gdp_defl ators/data_gdp_index.cfm

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

ACP Countries

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government are taking to enable African, Caribbean and Pacific countries to have the option of signing either an Economic Partnership Agreement or a pro-development alternative.

Ian Pearson: The European Union is negotiating Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with six regional groups of African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, with negotiations due to finish by the end of 2007. The UK published a position paper on EPAs in March.
	In the Cotonou Agreement, the European Union made a commitment to provide an alternative to an Economic Partnership Agreement at the request of any ACP country. The deadline to request an alternative has been extended to the end of 2006, at the request of the ACP themselves. To date no ACP countries have requested an alternative or have disengaged from the ongoing EPA negotiations. Should any ACP request an alternative to an EPA, the Government will encourage the Commission to consider all the possible alternative options available. The Government have already commissioned research on the amendments that would be required to existing trade arrangements to offer a sufficient alternative.

Auditor Liability

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the provisions relating to auditor liability in the European Commission's Eighth Directive.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Government support the provisions set out in Article 30a of the Audit Directive, which received political agreement under the UK Presidency on 11 October. Article 30a commits the European Commission to undertake research to assess the impact of the different national regimes for auditor liability across the EU.

Bain Report

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects Sir George Bain's report on his findings on the Royal Mail will be published.

Barry Gardiner: Sir George Bain has been appointed to provide advice to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on Royal Mail issues. There are no plans to publish Sir George's advice.

Developing Countries

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to encourage companies based in England to act responsibly in respect of (a) human rights and (b) the environment in their operations in developing countries.

Ian Pearson: We actively encourage UK-based international companies which operate in other countries, to apply high standards of corporate behaviour, including adhering to relevant internationally agreed standards which respect human rights and the environment.
	In April 2005 the UN High Commission on Human Rights requested the UN Secretary-General to appoint a special representative to take forward work on the area of business and human rights. The two year mandate of the special representative includes identification and clarification of standards of corporate responsibility and accountability for business with regard to human rights.
	The UK plays a leading role in ensuring that the international framework to promote and to tackle abuses of workers rights throughout the world is in place, particularly through its work with the International Labour Organisation (ILO). We play an active role in the ILO Committee on Multinational Enterprises and support the promotion and follow-up of the ILO Declaration of Principles Concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy which seeks to enhance the positive social and labour effects of multinational corporations' operations throughout the world.
	We actively support the UN Global Compact, launched by Kofi Anann in July 2000. The Compact is an agreement between the UN and business to uphold and promulgate 10 principles covering human rights, labour, the environment and corruption. We also promote the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises which recommend standards of responsible business conduct for businesses operating in or from the 37 adhering countries and we have written to the FTSE 100 companies to raise awareness of these expectations.
	We have set out our approach to encouraging environmentally and socially responsible practice internationally in our International Strategic Framework on Corporate Social Responsibility published in March this year.
	The Government are building Sustainable Development Dialogues with China, India, Brazil and other emerging economies. These dialogues seek to engage companies and civil society in both countries in the move towards sustainable development. The UK-India Dialogue was launched on 11 October.

Employee Shares

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies have issued shares (a) directly to their employees and (b) to an employee benefit trust in each year since 1997.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	Employers can give shares to their employees in a variety of different ways, including both taxed and tax-advantaged employee share schemes. These are reported to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). We do not know precisely how many companies have issued shares to UK employees in any year since 1997. This is because there are different reporting regimes for each type of tax-advantaged share scheme, plus taxed employment-related securities.
	Published National Statistics show 6,427 companies were operating one or more tax-advantaged employee share or share option scheme in 200304. Of which, at least 1,045 operated a scheme that was open to all-employees. Other data show that in 200304 around 5,000 companies reported appropriations of employment-related securities subject to tax and national insurance. Many operate taxed and tax-advantaged arrangements simultaneously. For each tax-advantaged scheme, the following table contains either the total number of companies, or schemes operated by companies, where employees have been issued shares, or were granted or exercised share options:
	
		
			  Number of schemes(26) Number of companies 
			  Approved profit sharing Save As You Earn(27) Company Share option plan(27) Share incentive plan Enterprise management incentives(27) 
		
		
			 199798 369 701 529   
			   (589) (695)   
			   
			 199899 375 683 510   
			   (588) (727)   
			   
			 19992000 364 686 708   
			   (544) (844)   
			 200001 351 387 728 48 11 
			   (493) (1,058)  (855) 
			   
			 200102 255 604 711 196 113 
			   (461) (874)  (1,914) 
			   
			 200203 144 510 819 339 274 
			   (446) (1,033)  (1,945) 
			   
			 200304  500 815 471 363 
			   (366) (816)  (2,027) 
		
	
	(26) Companies may operate more than one scheme of the same type simultaneously.
	(27) Share option schemes: Options granted are in parentheses as employees only acquire shares when they exercise options.

Energy Costs

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he is taking to ensure that British companies are not adversely affected by higher energy costs than their European competitors.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 21 October 2005
	At the beginning of 2005 the Department set up the Gas Prices Working Group with the Energy Intensive Users Group and Ofgem to develop ideas for mitigating the impact of rising prices on industrial users. The group has agreed an Action List of short and medium-term measures, such as maximising gas supplies, improving the functioning of the gas market, encouraging demand side response and pursuing energy market liberalisation in the EU. We have made the latter a priority of our Presidency and I will be impressing on my colleagues in other member states at the Energy Council on 1 December the importance of full implementation of the EU Liberalisation package.

Export Controls

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many licences were issued under export control regulations in connection with the Defence Systems and Equipment International Exhibition in September, broken down by type.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government issued five Open Individual Trade Control Licences (OITCLs) in connection with the Defence Systems Equipment International Exhibition (DSEi) held in September 2005.

Export Controls

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what UK companies have sought licences for the export of machines or parts to be used in the construction of a security barrier by Israel; and if he will set out the terms of any licences granted;
	(2)  which UK companies have (a) sought and (b) been granted export licences for the export of equipment to be used in the construction of the security barrier by Israel.

Malcolm Wicks: Export licence applications are made to the Government in confidence and information on whether any UK company has applied for any such licence, and if so which, is therefore exempt from disclosure. I would make clear however, that construction machines or parts are not generally controlled under the UK's strategic export control regime unless they are military goods listed on the UK's Military List.
	I would also make clear that all applications to export strategic goods from the UK are carefully considered on a case by case basis against the consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, taking into account the circumstances prevailing at the time and other previously announced Government policies. These criteria make specific reference, for example, to
	the internal situation in the country of final destination, as a function of the existence of tensions or armed conflicts (criterion 3),
	And
	preservation of regional peace and stability (criterion 4).
	Every export licence application is considered against each of the criteria; should it be judged that an export would contravene any of the criteria, for example risk of the goods being used for internal repression in the Occupied Territories, the application would be refused.
	The Government publishes detailed information on its export licensing decisions, by destination, in our Annual and Quarterly Reports on Strategic Export Controls, which are available from the Libraries of the House and the DTI Export Control Organisation website (www.dti.gov.uk/export.control).

Football Broadcasting

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions his Department has had since May with representatives from other EU governments on football television broadcasting rights.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department has had no such discussions with other EU member states.

Minimum Wage

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his assessment is of the impact on employment levels in the small shops sector of (a) the introduction of and (b) subsequent increases in the minimum wage.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The DTI does not have the precise data on employment in the small shops sector.
	In the last quarter before the introduction of the national minimum wage in April 1999, employment in the retail sector in Great Britain was estimated to be 2.525 million. Employment has since grown by over 11 per cent. to 2.823 million in the second quarter of 2005.
	The DTI has based these estimates on the Office for National Statistics Employer Surveys.

Minimum Wage

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people in Norfolk have been paid at the level of the national minimum wage since its introduction.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Reliable figures cannot be produced for Norfolk due to small sample size.
	The DTI estimates that around 80,000 people in the East of England region stood to benefit from the introduction of the national minimum wage in April 1999.
	The DTI has estimated that 100,000 people in the East of England region will be covered by the October 2005 uprating of the national minimum wage. The DTI has based the October 1999 estimate on the Office for National Statistics central estimate of low pay; the 2005 estimate is based on data from the 2004 Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings.

National Grid

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultation has occurred with (a) the general public and (b) industry about the reduction in voltage on the national grid that may be required in the event of a one in 50 cold winter.

Malcolm Wicks: My officials are investigating the impacts of voltage reduction measures undertaken in other countries in the past year. We will share the findings with industry and other interested parties.

Newspapers and Magazines

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will review the local wholesaling arrangements by publishers for the supply and distribution of newspapers and magazines.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 24 October 2005
	None. Following a request from members of the publishing industry, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is considering the compatibility with competition law of distribution arrangements for newspapers and magazines, including the issue of wholesalers being allocated exclusive geographical distribution territories. The OFT published a provisional opinion on this matter on 19 May 2005 and has since received further representations from across the newspaper and magazine supply chain. The new chief executive of the OFT, John Fingleton, is taking a fresh look at the opinion.

Nuclear Power

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the nuclear installations in the United Kingdom where nuclear materials accounting operates on a near real time basis.

Malcolm Wicks: Nuclear materials accountancy is used at UK nuclear sites to help meet statutory domestic regulations and international safeguards requirements. International safeguards requirements include the timely detection of diversion of civil nuclear material. This timeliness is a function of material type and form. Some nuclear installations therefore operate near real time materials accountancy to meet this safeguards requirement. Such accountancy systems are not designed for process control and are distinct from systems for monitoring the safety and security at the installation. Parts of the Sellafield MOX Plant (SMP) and THORP reprocessing plant at Sellafield operate near real time materials accountancy.

Nuclear Power

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are being taken to develop new nuclear power plants in the UK.

Malcolm Wicks: None. The Government have stated that before any decision to proceed with the building of new nuclear power stations, there would need to be the fullest public consultation and the publication of a White Paper setting out the Government's proposals.

Nuclear Power

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he plans to publish a White Paper setting out the Government's proposals on whether to build new nuclear power stations.

Malcolm Wicks: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister recently announced that the Government would bring forward proposals on energy policy next year. The analysis of options will include an assessment of civil nuclear power.
	The Government have stated that before any decision to proceed with the building of new nuclear power stations, there would need to be the fullest public consultation and the publication of a White Paper setting out the Government's proposals.

Nuclear Power

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what account has been taken of projected rises in sea levels due to global warming in the siting of new power stations;
	(2)  what guidance he has issued in respect of siting of new power stations.

Malcolm Wicks: I have issued no guidance. Location is a matter for the developer to consider and substantiate in putting forward his application. That application will be considered against the environmental implications of the location chosen.

Post Office Ltd.

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many mobile post offices are operating in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the North Down constituency.

Barry Gardiner: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. (POL). The chief executive, David Mills, has been asked to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Post Office Ltd.

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects the Office of Fair Trading to rule on the suitability and fairness of the standard contract offered by Post Office Ltd. to members of the Association of Convenience Stores; and if he will make a statement.

Barry Gardiner: holding answer 24 October 2005
	This is a matter for the OFT. I understand OFT is currently still in the process of consulting interested parties.

Power Cuts

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment has been made of the possible implications for the operation of medical equipment of a cut in mains voltage during a one in 50 cold winter.

Malcolm Wicks: Medical equipment is designed to operate at the standard supply voltage and within the statutory limit for the UK of plus 10 per cent. minus 6 per cent.
	In NHS hospitals, where the supply voltage falls to a value likely to give rise to danger or equipment failure, then automatic systems disconnect the network supply and revert to a stand-by generator supply until the network is restored to a sustained normal value.

Property Searches

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he plans to implement (a) the method of determination and (b) the level of charging by local authorities for property searches in response to the conclusions of the Office of Fair Trading report into property searches published in September.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Government are considering the recommendations made by the Office of Fair Trading in their market study on property searches. We welcome the publication of this report and are discussing the recommendation with stakeholders. The response will be published within 90 days of the publication date of the report.

Radioactive Waste

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what volumes of (a) low-level, (b) intermediate and (c) high-level radioactive waste are stored in the United Kingdom.

Elliot Morley: I have been ask to reply
	The UK Radioactive Waste Inventory, which is jointly prepared by DEFRA and Nirex, details the volumes of waste in store in the UK as at 1 April 2001 as:
	
		
			  Cubic metres 
		
		
			 Higher Level Waste (HLW) 764 
			 Intermediate Level Waste (ILW) 74,466 
			 Low Level Waste (LLW) 15,674 
		
	
	This is on the basis that the volumes quoted represent the waste in final conditioned form.
	Conditioned radioactive waste is immobilised in a solid and stable form that reduces the hazard for long-term management.
	Details of the volumes held as at 1 April 2004 will be published later this year as the 2004 UK Radioactive Waste Inventory.

Renewable Energy

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research his Department is funding in respect of transforming biomass into hydrogen.

Malcolm Wicks: Biomass to hydrogen has been identified as one of six hydrogen energy chains, which could offer cost-competitive CO 2 reductions and increased energy security for the UK by 2030. Further details are in the Strategic Framework for Hydrogen Energy in the UK (http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sepn/hydrogen_framework_full.pdf). My Department is currently developing a 15 million demonstration programme for hydrogen and fuel cells and we are committed to establishing a Hydrogen Coordination Unit.
	A 312,000 grant has recently been offered to the PERA Group to support a 596,000 project to develop a process for the production of hydrogen from biomass and wastes using supercritical water gasification.
	Prior to this, the DTI commissioned a study from Imperial College to assess the options for the production of transport fuels from renewable sources. This study included hydrogen production from biomass. The final report from this work is available on the DTI website (http://www.dti.gov.uk) URN 03/982.

Renewable Energy

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been spent (a) within the EU and (b) within the UK on (i) nuclear fusion and fission research and (ii) renewable energy research in each year from 1980 to date.

Malcolm Wicks: It has not been possible to collate all public expenditure and other Government support since 1980 for energy technologies in the time available at proportionate cost. However it is possible to detail direct DTI and Research Council expenditure on new and renewables, clean fossil fuels and nuclear for the years 1990 onwards. These are set out in the following tables.
	In addition to this both DEFRA and the Scottish Executive provide funding to the Carbon Trust which conducts research into low carbon energy activities among other activities. DEFRA also funds research into combined heat and power, which is also detailed in the following tables.
	For figures relating to the rest of the EU, I would refer you to the EEA renewables 2005 for the latest details and can be found at, http://www.iea.org.
	
		DTI new and renewable energy programmeexternal spend for each technology area by financial year from 199091
		
			 Rounded to nearest 000 
			  Spend 
			 Programme area 199091 199192 199293 199394 199495 199596 199697 199798 
		
		
			 Bio Wastes 874,000 1,237,000 1,158,000 916,000 1,235,000 1,097,000 593,000 75,000 
			 Biomass 973,000 1,153,000 1,961,000 2,378,000 2,350,000 2,313,000 1,937,000 1,317,000 
			 Embedded Generation 0 54,000 108,000 463,000 908,000 835000 647,000 586,000 
			 Fuel cells 155,000 339,000 362,000 827,000 915,000 1,172,000 914,000 900,000 
			 GeothermalAquifers -8,000 55,000 130,000 143000 0 0 0 0 
			 GeothermalHot Dry Rocks 2,579,000 1,567,000 1,088,000 989,000 245,000 0 0 0 
			 Hydro 33,000 122,000 70,000 167,000 148,000 79,000 142,000 57,000 
			 Solar 2,124,000 2,354,000 2,302,000 2,378,000 2,067,000 1,878,000 1,874,000 1,660,000 
			 Tidal 1,860,000 1,932,000 1,726,000 582,000 220,000 165,000 0 0 
			 Wave 388,000 467,000 325,000 196,000 106,000 42,000 50,000 0 
			 Wind 4,530,000 6,674,000 8,694,000 7,310,000 2,729,000 3,370,000 2,365,000 1,240,000 
			 Grand total 13,500,000 15,954,000 17,924,000 16,349,000 10,923,000 10,951,000 8,522,000 5,835,000 
		
	
	
		
			  Spend 
			  199899 19992000 200001 200102 200203 200304 200405 Total 
		
		
			 Bio Wastes 48,000 25,000 56,000 13,000 42,000 259,000  7,628,000 
			 Biomass 1,076,000 1,585,000 1,267,000 1,333,000 1,595,000 1,346,000 974,222 23,558,222 
			 Embedded Generation 530,000 596,000 589,000 776,000 1,424,000 725,000 1,105,640 9,346,640 
			 Fuel cells 1,197,000 1,168,000 1,410,000 1,249,000 1,200,000 1,701,000 4,907,430 18,416,430 
			 GeothermalAquifers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 320,000 
			 GeothermalHot Dry Rocks 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6,468,000 
			 Hydro 80,000 138,000 60,000 130,000 200,000 85,000 0 1,511,000 
			 Solar 983,000 1,278,000 1,264,000 1,522,000 4,485,000 3,131,000 1,970,340 31,270,340 
			 Tidal 0 0 27,000 305,000 1,996,000 2,914,000 1,268,530 12,995,530 
			 Wave 91,000 11,000 331,000 662,000 748,000 2,104,000  5521,000 
			 Wind 950,000 801,000 913,000 1,248,000 1,428,000 1,395,000 1,459,600 45,106,600 
			 Grand total 4,955,000 5,602,000 5,917,000 7,238,000 13,118,000 13,660,000 11,685,762 162,133,762 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. From 200001, figures do not include spend on contracts placed direct by DTI.
	2. For 200405, highlighted cells show a combined spend for the two areas
	3. It has not been possible to collate expenditure on oil and gas research in the time available
	
		DTI clean coal programme
		
			   
		
		
			 199091 10,199,000 
			 199192 4,108,000 
			 199293 3,020,000 
			 199394 6,918,000 
			 199495 6,876,000 
			 199596 6,626,000 
			 199697 5,195,000 
			 199798 3,100,000 
			 199899 2,900,000 
			 19992000 2,500,000 
			 200001 4,300,000 
			 200102 4,400,000 
			 200203 3,00,000 
			 200304 5,000,000 
			 200405 (28)6,500,000 
			 Total 68,142,000 
		
	
	(28) Estimate
	Figures for direct Government expenditure (but not including spending by the Research Councils) on nuclear fission:
	
		Nuclear 
		
			   
		
		
			 199192 73,500,000 
			 199293 69,200,000 
			 199394 60,900,000 
			 199495 12,500,000 
			 199596 6,000,000 
			 199697 9,300,000 
			 199798 1,000,000 
			 199899 1,600,000 
			 19992000 2,500,000 
			 200001 0 
			 200102 2,000,000 
			 200203 2,100,000 
			 200304 2,100,000 
			 200405 2,200,000 
			 Total 244,900,000 
		
	
	
		DTI capital grant programmes
		
			  200203 200304 200405 Total 
		
		
			 Biomass (DTI and Lottery spend)  10,000 1,913,000 1,923,000 
			 Offshore Wind Capital Grants  0 15,000,000 15,000,000 
			 Clear Skies Community Renewables 200,000 1,387,000 2,413,000 3,800,000 
			 Major PV Demo Programme 960,000 2,880,000 6,450,000 9,330,000 
			 Grand total 1,160,000 4,277,000 25,776,000 30,053,000 
		
	
	
		DEFRA CHP programme
		
			   
		
		
			 199091 300,000 
			 199192 300,000 
			 199293 300,000 
			 199394 400,000 
			 199495 500,000 
			 199596 500,000 
			 199697 700,000 
			 199798 1,000,000 
			 199899 1,300,000 
			 19992000 1,900,000 
			 200001 2,500,000 
			 200102 2,800,000 
			 200203 1,600,000 
			 200304 2,500,000 
			 200405 2,000,000 
			 Total 18,600,000 
		
	
	Note: Several indirect measures of state support for CHP were introduced in 200102. Of those that can be enumerated, climate change levy exemption on fuel inputs to Good Quality CHP and good quality CHP electricity outputs were valued at up to 80 million per annum, while eligibility for Enhanced Capital Allowances is worth in the region of 10 million per annum to the industry. Capital grants for Community Energy programme schemes were introduced in 200203 and the spend on schemes including CHP was: 427,000 in 200203, 4,315,000 in 200304 and 4,896,000 in 200405.
	
		Research Council spend
		
			 Programme area 199798 199899 19992000 200001 200102 
		
		
			 Biofuel 0 0 0 21,540 51,545 
			 Biomass 446,665 870,970 736,434 600,811 700,790 
			 CHP 4,382 36,297 63,210 77,166 267,313 
			 CO 2  sequestration 0 0 0 22,544 41,589 
			 Fuel cells 887,584 1,011,524 703,128 898,637 1,145,076 
			 Hydrogen 30,348 135,531 59,169 82,976 318,500 
			 Solar 1,439,835 1,286,000 1,076,000 1,134,000 1,130,000 
			 Photovoltaic 2,254,756 3,001,835 2,759,517 2,991,977 3,536,428 
			 Wave and tidal 0 157,000 175,000 300,599 605,693 
			 Wind 199,847 225,903 177,716 260,596 330,283 
			 Wind/solar(29) 0 21,000 21,000 100,000 0 
			 Wind/wave(30) 0 28,000 28,000 28,000 28,000 
			 Waste 66,012 9,985 39,652 39,962 95,718 
			 Geothermal 0 0 0 40,493 64,550 
			 Storage 325,808 649,899 669,617 837,918 888,602 
			 Networks 1,347,678 1,167,695 1,081,132 919,165 1,114,793 
			 Total renewable 7,002,915 8,601,639 7,589,576 8,356,384 10,318,881 
			 Conventional 331,072 103,266 107,890 549,220 1,120,493 
			 Fission power 42,111 81,228 61,793 127,562 324,879 
			 Energy Efficiency and Low Carbon Innovation 1,732,072 1,854,776 1,693,629 1,400,400 1,671,465 
			 Other and General 0 13,000 303,000 670,000 602,000 
			 Fusion 16,600,000 12,600,000 14,300,000 17,000,000 14,400,000 
			 Total 25,708,169 23,253,909 24,055,888 28,103,566 28,437,717 
		
	
	
		
			 Programme area 200203 200304 200405 Total 
		
		
			 Biofuel 143,990 134,929 92,325 444,329 
			 Biomass 783,026 1,042,526 1,186,257 6,367,479 
			 CHP 356,756 225,905 70,791 1,101,820 
			 CO 2  sequestration 77,787 30,323 42,461 214,704 
			 Fuel cells 1,468,042 1,193,165 917,608 8,224,764 
			 Hydrogen 516,560 1,494,155 1,495,130 4,132,369 
			 Solar 1,157,000 1,453,023 1,753,334 10,429,192 
			 Photovoltaic 2,770,354 2,381,044 2,761,866 22,457,777 
			 Wave and tidal 616,694 830,226 1,050,253 3,735,465 
			 Wind 490,447 481,572 255,672 2,422,036 
			 Wind/solar(29) 0 0 0 142,000 
			 Wind/wave(30) 28,000 28,000 28,000 196,000 
			 Waste 124,826 169,024 154,474 699,653 
			 Geothermal 63,550 73,460 79,429 321,482 
			 Storage 809,871 730,182 499,536 5,411,433 
			 Networks 1,388,490 1,804,749 2,463,125 11,286,827 
			 Total renewable 10,795,392 12,072,282 12,850,259  
			 Conventional 1,349,380 1,252,582 1,627,554 6,441,457 
			 Fission power 307,195 212,239 125,453 1,282,460 
			 Energy Efficiency and Low Carbon Innovation 1,979,554 1,211,881 2,914,276 14,458,053 
			 Other and General 665,000 762,000 1,944,000 4,959,000 
			 Fusion 14,600,000 15,630,000 19,530,000 124,660,000 
			 Total 29,696,521 31,140,985 38,991,541  
		
	
	Note:
	Prior to 1997 data on Research Council expenditure was not collated in a way which is comparable to post 1997 expenditure.

Renewable Energy

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much his Department spent on research into renewable energy technologies in (a) 2005 and (b) each of the previous five years.

Malcolm Wicks: The DTI spend on renewable technologies for the six years from 19992000 to 200405 is set out in the following table.
	
		DTI new and renewable energy programmeexternal spend for each technology area by financial year from 199091 
		
			 rounded to nearest 000 
			 Programme area Spend  
			  19992000 200001 200102 200203 200304 200405 Total 
		
		
			 Bio wastes 25,000 56,000 13,000 42,000 259,000  395,000 
			 Biomass 1,585,000 1,267,000 1,333,000 1,595,000 1,346,000 974,222 8,100,222 
			 Embedded generation 596,000 589,000 776,000 1,424,000 725,000 1,105,640 5,215,640 
			 Fuel cells 1,168,000 1,410,000 1,249,000 1,200,000 1,701,000 4,907,430 11,635,430 
			 Geothermalaquifers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Geothermalhot dry rocks 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Hydro 138,000 60,000 130,000 200,000 85,000 0 613,000 
			 Solar 127,8000 126,4000 152,2000 4,485,000 3,131,000 1,970,340 13,650,340 
			 Tidal 0 27,000 305,000 1,996,000 2,914,000 1,268,530 6,510,530 
			 Wave 11,000 331,000 662,000 748,000 2,104,000  3,856,000 
			 Wind 801,000 913,000 1,248,000 1,428,000 1,395,000 1,459,600 7,244,600 
			 Total 5,602,000 5,917,000 7,238,000 13,118,000 13,660,000 11,685,762 57,220,762 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. From 200001, figures do not include spend on contracts placed direct by DTI.
	2. For 200405, highlighted cells show a combined spend for the two areas.
	3. It has not been possible to collate expenditure on oil and gas research in the time available.
	
		
		
			 DTI capital grant programmes 200203 20034 20045 Total 
		
		
			 Biomass (DTI and lottery spend)  10,000 1,913,000 1,923,000 
			 Offshore wind capital grants  0 15,000,000 15,000,000 
			 Clear skies community renewables 200,000 1,387,000 2,413,000 3,800,000 
			 Major PV demo programme 960,000 2,880,000 6,450,000 9,330,000 
			 Total 1,160,000 4,277,000 25,776,000 30,053,000

Renewable Energy

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he plans to extend the current programme of funding for the renewable energy industry for another 12 months.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government's main support mechanism for renewables is the Renewables Obligation (RO), which was introduced in April 2002. It is a market-based mechanism, designed primarily to support technologies that are close to the market and it will remain in place until 2027. Electricity supply companies are required to source an increasing percentage of their electricity sales from eligible renewable sources. The obligation for 200506 is 5.5 per cent. rising to 15.4 per cent. by 2015. The Government have also allocated around 500 million of support for research, development and demonstration into renewable technologies between 200208.
	There are a range of specific programmes which are currently running which will continue into next year including:
	the EPSRC-led ongoing energy research programme which supports academic research into energy technologies including renewables.
	Industry-led collaborative R and D delivered through the Technology Programme. Renewable technologies have featured in all calls since the programme's inception, though technologies supported in each call are prioritised by the independent Technology Strategy Board. The programme will support a range of projects in renewables in 2006.
	Expenditure on bioenergy and offshore wind capital grants programmes will continue in 2006.
	The DTI is currently developing a 50 million marine deployment fund which is expected to be operational by 2006.
	The DTI has extended the Major Photovoltaics Demonstration Programme (PV MDP) with 31 million worth of capital grants available from 2002 to 2006. Continued support for PV will be directed through the low carbon buildings programme due to be implemented in financial year 200607. The programme is currently under development after consultation.

Renewable Energy

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money has been spent on the testing of wave and tidal technology projects in each of the last five years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Details of spend on wave and tidal technology projects for each of the last five years are set out in the tables.
	
		DTI new and renewable energy programmeexternal spend for wave and tidal technology by financial year from 200001 to200405(29)
		
			  Amount () 
		
		
			 200001 358,000 
			 200102 967,000 
			 200203 2,744,000 
			 200304 (30)6,218,000 
			 200405 1,268,530 
		
	
	(29) Rounded to the nearest 000.
	(30) Includes 1.2 million grant to the European Marine Energy Centre, Orkney.
	
		Research Council spendexternal spend for wave and tidal technology by financial year from 200001 to 200405(31)
		
			  Amount () 
		
		
			 200001 300,599 
			 200102 605,693 
			 200203 616,694 
			 200304 830,226 
			 200405 1,050,253 
		
	
	(31) Rounded to the nearest 000.
	Note:
	The figures do not include support for wave and tidal technology research and development and demonstration provided through the devolved Administrations, Carbon Trust or Regional Development Agency initiatives.

Renewable Energy

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department is taking to encourage the use of solar power.

Malcolm Wicks: Support for the development of PV ranges from encouraging innovation in research and development to stimulating the market for PV systems.
	This is being achieved through:
	Collaborative research and development (RD) programme of approximately 2.5 million per annum; last year the DTI allocated just over 2.7 million.
	10 million already committed through Domestic and Large Scale Field Trials for a diverse set of PV installations from homes to offices.
	Extended Major Photovoltaics Demonstration Programme (PV MDP) with 31 million worth of capital grants available from 2002 to 2006. Continued support for PV will be directed through the low carbon buildings programme due to be implemented in financial year 200607. The programme is currently under development after consultation.
	Ministerial initiatives to encourage UK and foreign companies to invest in PV cell, module and system component manufacture in the UK, resulting in Romag and Sharp announcements in October 2003, and launch of integrated products such as the Marley Solar Tile and Solar Century's C21 PV root tile.
	Addressing planning, installer accreditation, network connection and metering issues through the work of various government-industry groups.
	Work with the IEA and the UK currently leads on Task 9 Photovoltaic Services for Developing Countries.
	The DTI funded Clear Skies Programme provides grants for householders and community/not-for-profit organisations for the installation of solar hot water heating systems, www.clear-skies.org. This programme was extended to run until March 2006 and will also be superseded by the new low carbon buildings programme.

Renewable Energy

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the (a) grants and (b) amounts available for the installation of domestic (i) solar-thermal panels, (ii) photovoltaics, (iii) wind micro-generators and (iv) other small-scale greenhouse gas emission-saving devices; and what grants have been available in each of the past five years.

Malcolm Wicks: For the installation of domestic scale photovoltaics, grants have been available since 2002 under the DTI's Photovoltaics Demonstration Programme, for up to 50 per cent. of installation costs up to a maximum installation of 5kw. www.solarpvgrants.co.uk. The following caps for cost per kWp installed were introduced during the programme:
	
		
			  KWp () 
		
		
			 From June 2003:  
			 Bolt-on 3,000 
			 Integrated 4,250 
			   
			 From 19 July 2004:  
			 Bolt-on 2,800 
			 Integrated 4,000 
			 Semi-integrated 3,400 
			 Glass/glass 5,000 
			   
			 From 1 March 2005:  
			 Bolt-on 2,500 
			 Integrated 3,500 
			 Semi-integrated 3,000 
			 Glass/glass 5,000 
		
	
	The DTI has 10 million already committed through Domestic and Large Scale Field Trials for a diverse set of PV installations from homes to offices.
	Under the DTI's Clear Skies programme, which was launched in January 2003 the following grants have been available for domestic installations:
	Solar water heating400 regardless of size. This was reduced from 500 in July 2004.
	Wind1,000 per kw installed up to a maximum of 5,000.
	Hydro1,000 per kw installed up to a maximum of 5,000.
	Ground source Heat Pumps1,200 regardless of size.
	Room heaters/stoves with automated wood pellet feed600 regardless of size.
	Wood fuelled boiler systems1,500 regardless of size.
	www.clear-skies.org
	No domestic grants were available in the last five years prior to these programmes.

Renewable Energy

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent research he has evaluated on the use of wave technology for energy generation; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The DTI supports research into the use of wave technology for energy generation under its Technology Programme www.dti.gov.uk/technologyprogramme.
	The most recent call for proposals under the Technology Programme was in April 2005 when a total of eight proposals for wave technology research were received and evaluated. Wave technology will also be a priority area in the next call of the Technology Programme.
	Pre-commercial multi-device demonstrations will also be supported under the 50 million Marine Renewables Deployment Fund.
	Wave technology is also covered through Carbon Trust programmes, such as the Marine Energy Challenge and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council's Supergen Marine Consortium.

Renewable Energy

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the projected maximum practicable percentage contribution is to United Kingdom's energy needs that can be provided by wind farms.

Malcolm Wicks: The UK has among the very best wind resources in Europe. Our view is that wind, both onshore and offshore, could easily contribute more that 10 per cent. of our electricity needs. Work undertaken by NGC indicates that 10 per cent. wind could be accommodated on the UK's transmission system with little additional cost or difficulty. Beyond that, NGC's work also indicates that 20 per cent. wind could be manageable. A view that is reinforced by experience in Denmark where wind already contributes more than 20 per cent. of electricity generation.
	However, our renewable policies remain technology neutral. Our aspiration is to supply 20 per cent. of electricity needs from renewable sources by 2020. By that time we would expect other renewable technologies, such as biomass and wave and tidal, to come to the fore particularly as the balancing and wider system costs associated with wind are likely to increase as connected wind generation is increased.

Rosewall Sculpture

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on Royal Mail's planned auction of the Rosewall Sculpture;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the Chairman of the Royal Mail Group, plc. regarding the auction of the Rosewall Sculpture;
	(3)  if he will take steps to prevent Royal Mail's sale of the Rosewall Sculpture and its permanent departure from Chesterfield.

Barry Gardiner: There have not been any discussions with the chairman of the Royal Mail Group on this matter.
	Royal Mail has recently withdrawn the sculpture from the planned auction. The company is currently reviewing the future of the piece and are hopeful of finding a satisfactory solution.

Severn Estuary (Tidal Barrage)

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans his Department has to review the viability of a tidal barrage on the Severn Estuary; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department has no plans to review the viability of a tidal barrage on the Severn Estuary at this time.

Small Shops

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the number of small shops in England which (a) are and (b) will in 2015 be run by (i) major retailing chains and (ii) independent owners.

Barry Gardiner: holding answer 24 October 2005
	There are 184,695 VAT-registered retail businesses in the UK, operating 278,630 retail outlets. The Department does not hold data on the ownership status of these companies.
	The Department has not made projections regarding the composition of the retail sector up to 2015.

TREASURY

Child Benefit

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have benefited from child benefit in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each year since 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: Figures below the level of Great Britain are not available for periods prior to August 1999.
	Figures for August 1999 to August 2004 are available on the Office for National Statistics Neighbourhood Statistics website under the people and society heading, http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/download1.do

Child Poverty

Edward Balls: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what funding has been allocated to measures to tackle child poverty for (a) 200506 and (b) future financial years; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 13 October 2005
	The Government are committed to halving child poverty by 2010 and eradicating it by 2020. Our measures for tackling child poverty for current and future generations cover not just financial support measures, but also measures to deliver employment opportunity for all, and improve children's life chances and break cycles of deprivation. Therefore it is not possible to provide a precise figure for the funding allocated in 200506 and future years, as the full range of public services must contribute to tackling child poverty. Details of this approach are available in the Child Poverty Review and the 2004 Spending Review White Paper (Cm 6237).
	The Government have made a strong start to tackling child poverty. In relative low income terms this Government have already lifted more than half a million children out of poverty. Tax credits are a key element in the Government's strategy to tackle child poverty and provide financial support for families, and are benefiting 6 million families and 10 million children. In 200506 the child tax credit and child benefit provide up to 59 per week for the first child and up to 44 for each additional child, and the Government have committed to increasing the child element of CTC in line with earnings up to and including 200708.

Debt Relief

Lynne Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the details of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) aspects of the G8 debt proposal to be finalised; if he will list those countries which may be eligible to benefit by having all their IMF debts up to 31 December 2004 irrevocably cancelled; when he expects they will receive this cancellation; and from which IMF funding streams this cancellation is to be paid for each of the countries concerned.

Ivan Lewis: At the meeting of the International Monetary and Financial Committee on 24 September, it was agreed that the managing director of the IMF would call the executive board together to complete its approval of the arrangements to deliver debt relief by the end of 2005.
	Eligible countries will be the HIPCs, as they reach completion point. For those countries who have already reached completion point we expect the same standards required for completion point to have been maintained, so that we can sure that countries will use the savings from debt relief in a poverty-reducing manner.
	A list of the HIPCs and the progress they have made in the HIPC initiative follows:
	Countries at completion point
	Benin
	Bolivia
	Burkina Faso
	Ethiopia
	Guyana
	Ghana
	Honduras
	Mali
	Mauritania
	Madagascar
	Mozambique
	Nicaragua
	Niger
	Rwanda
	Senegal
	Tanzania
	Uganda
	Zambia
	Total18
	Countries between decision and completion points
	Burundi
	Cameroon
	Chad
	Democratic Rep. Congo
	Gambia
	Guinea
	Guinea-Bissau
	Malawi
	Sierra Leone
	Sao Tome and Principe
	Total10
	Countries not yet at decision point
	Burma
	Central African Rep.
	Comoros
	Rep. of Congo
	Co(r)te d'Ivoire
	Lao PDR
	Liberia
	Somalia
	Sudan
	Togo
	Total10

Debt Relief

Lynne Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) policies and (b) measures of governance are required by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank of the Completion Point Heavily Indebted Poor Countries to enable them to benefit from further IMF debt cancellation; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Countries will qualify for debt stock cancellation by reaching Completion Point under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPC). By definition, Completion Point HIPCs have demonstrated a sustained commitment to poverty reduction and sound macroeconomic management that provides confidence that the savings from debt relief will be used for poverty reduction. Good governance is part of this, with standards drawn from national strategies. Once countries have qualified for debt stock cancellation, they will get 100 per cent. irrevocable relief. There will be no on-going conditionality.
	Countries that have already completed the HIPC Initiative must demonstrate that they have maintained their commitment to poverty reduction and good macro-economic management in order to qualify for relief. They must therefore have remained current with their repayment obligations to the International Financial Institutions, and not have experienced serious lapses, including in governance, such that their IMF programmes would be at risk.
	In addition, extra donor resources will be provided to the World Bank and African Development Bank to fully compensate for the costs of the debt stock cancellation. These resources will be allocated to all poor countries through the Institutions' existing Performance Based Allocation System, thereby providing a strong incentive for good policy (including governance) and performance. World Bank and IMF staff will also continue to monitor and report on the overall efficiency of public expenditure as well as on progress in reducing corruption and enhancing transparency in recipient countries.

Departmental Staff

Nick Gibb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills of new recruits to his Department.

John Healey: HM Treasury includes the use of verbal and numerical reasoning tests as part of the selection process for new recruits, in order to assess the applicants' literacy and numeracy skills. The complexity of the roles being recruited to determines the level of difficulty of the test used. The information obtained from such tests together with other selection methods, is used to determine the applicants' suitability for the role.
	When using psychometric tests in recruitment and selection, HM Treasury follows the British Psychological Society's Code of Practice on Occupational Testing.

Departmental Staff

Nick Gibb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what training in (a) literacy and (b) numeracy is offered to employees of his Department.

John Healey: Basic literacy and numeracy are the minimum entry-level requirements for the most junior positions within HM Treasury. Consequently, only higher-level training is provided to Treasury staff.

Financial Services Authority

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the work of the Financial Services Authority in monitoring private pension schemes.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 20 October 2005
	With respect to personal pensions, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) has responsibility under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 for the prudential regulation of many providers of these schemes and for the way these firms and separate intermediaries market and sell these products to consumers.
	The FSA takes a risk-based approach to regulation, ensuring that it regulates in a proportionate and effective way. Irrespective of the product type, the FSA has a wide range of regulatory tools at its disposal, most importantly authorisation, supervision, and where appropriate enforcement and discipline. These tools allow the FSA to take proportionate action in line with its statutory objectives.

Financing Negotiations (EU)

Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the UK presidency plans to take forward future financing negotiations in the EU.

Ivan Lewis: The UK remains committed to working towards a deal on future financing during its presidency of the EU. To this end, the presidency has held bilateral consultations with all member states, Bulgaria, and Romania on future financing and is now reflecting on the results. The Prime Minister will update Heads of State and Government at the Hampton Court informal meeting on 27 October. The presidency will then take the issue forward in November, starting with an initial discussion at the 7 November GAERC. Any decision would be taken at the European Council on 1516 December.

Fiscal Reform

Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to reform the fiscal rules.

Ivan Lewis: There are no plans to reform the fiscal rules at this time. However, as noted in the Government's response to the TSC report on the 2004 pre-Budget report, the Government, of course, keeps the macroeconomic framework under review to ensure that it remains at the forefront of international best practice.

Income Tax

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what percentage of taxpayers in (a) South Swindon and (b) the UK paid tax at the (i) basic rate and (ii) higher rate in 200405.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer my hon. Friend to table 2.1 'Number of individual income taxpayers' on the HM Revenue and Customs internet website http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_tax/table21.pdf
	The percentages of individual paying income tax at the basic rate and higher rate in the UK can be calculated from the data provided in the table.
	The income tax information is based upon the 200203 Survey of Personal Incomes (SPI) projected forward to 200405 in line with Budget 2005 assumptions.
	Latest information on the estimated number of income taxpayers in South Swindon constituency is shown in table 3.15 'Total Income by Parliamentary Constituency' on the HM Revenue and Customs internet website http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_distribution/table-315.xls
	A breakdown by tax bands is not available because the sample sizes for marginal rates at constituency level are very small and demonstrate a large variability year on year.

Investors Compensation Scheme

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the value of professional indemnity insurance when a firm failing its obligations will be eligible for support from the Investors Compensation Scheme.

Ivan Lewis: When a person has a claim against a firm the liability is that of the firm. Any professional indemnity policy taken out by the firm should provide it with funds to meet eligible claims, subject to the terms of the policy. Providing its liabilities are all met the firm will be able to continue in business.
	The Investors Compensation Scheme (now the Financial Services Compensation Scheme) steps in as a last resort when, despite any claim that may be successful under a professional indemnity insurance policy, there is compensation remaining due to the consumer and the firm is certified as in default. Compensation may then be paid by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme to the consumer.

Local Tax Offices

Hugo Swire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what public consultation was undertaken before the decision was made that payment of tax would not be accepted at local tax offices after 31 December.

Dawn Primarolo: The change is consistent with policy adopted, in respect of cash handling, by other large organisations and Government Departments. Customers are able to pay tax by cash at post offices and banks.

Low Value Consignment Relief (Jersey)

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received calling for the reduction or ending of Low Value Consignment Relief on goods sent by mail order from Jersey; what his estimate is of the consequent loss of revenue to his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government have received a number of representations from stakeholders on this issue and is keeping it under review. We would need to ensure that any decision to change the relief reflected a full consideration of the potential impact on UK businesses, consumers and taxpayers.
	The Government estimates that, per annum, around 80 million in potential VAT receipts is lost through this relief, with about 40 million of this attributable to imports from Jersey.

Malnutrition

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for how many deaths malnutrition was given as a cause of death in each of the last 10 years, broken down by age.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Paul Burstow, dated 25 October 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking for how many deaths malnutrition was given as a cause of death in each of the last 10 years broken down by age. I am replying in her absence. (20488)
	The most recently available information is for deaths in 2003. Figures showing numbers of deaths by age where malnutrition or deprivation of food was mentioned on the death certificate are given in the attached table for each year from 1994 to 2003.
	
		Number of deaths where malnutrition or deprivation of food(32) was mentioned on the death certificate, persons by age group, England and Wales, 1994 to 2003(33)
		
			  Under 15 1544 4564 6584 85 plus All ages 
		
		
			 1994 2 13 27 116 72 230 
			 1995 2 22 22 121 81 248 
			 1996 3 16 41 131 65 256 
			 1997 2 23 28 118 66 237 
			 1998 1 11 38 111 60 221 
			 1999 3 16 47 143 62 271 
			 2000 3 19 39 119 59 239 
			 2001 2 19 37 127 73 258 
			 2002 2 21 51 141 81 296 
			 2003 3 21 63 127 72 286 
		
	
	(32) Cause of death was defined using the codes below from the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) for the years 1994 to 2000, and Tenth Revision (ICD-10) from 2001 onwards.
	ICD-9:
	260Kwashiorkor;
	261Nutritional marasmus;
	262Other severe protein-calorie malnutrition;
	263Other and unspecified protein-calorie malnutrition;
	994.2Effects of hunger.
	ICD-10:
	E40-E46Malnutrition;
	T73.0Effects of hunger.
	(33) Figures are for deaths occurring in each calendar year.

National Lottery (Duty)

Theresa May: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue his Department expects to receive in national lottery duty in each year from 2005 until 2012.

Dawn Primarolo: Revenue forecasts were set out in the Financial Statement and Budget Report and will be updated in the pre-Budget report.

National Lottery (Duty)

Theresa May: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue his Department received in national lottery duty during each year from 1997 to 2005.

Dawn Primarolo: Revenues from gambling taxes are published in the HM Revenue and Customs Betting, Gaming and Lottery Duties Bulletin, available at http://www.uktradeinfo.co.uk/index.cfm?task=bullbett

New Deal

Tim Boswell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his Department's contribution to the establishment of the new deal for skills.

John Healey: The Chancellor announced a new deal for skills in the 2004 Budget. The Departments for Work and Pensions, and Education and Skills, Trade and Industry and Treasury have worked jointly to develop the three main strands: Skills Coaching, Skills Passports and the Adult Learning Option. The new deal for skills is being delivered by the Departments for Education of Skills and for Work and Pensions as a joint project.
	More detail on the new deal for skills may be found in the Libraries of the House and at
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/8F5/94/pbr04skills_41O.pdf
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/D53/E4/bud04_ch3_281.pdf
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/skillsstrategy/

Northern Ireland Housing Executive Tenants

Iris Robinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Northern Ireland Housing Executive tenants are in receipt of child tax credits, broken down by (a) district housing executive area and (b) parliamentary constituency; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: There is no information available on child tax credit receipts of Northern Ireland Housing Executive tenants.
	Estimates for 200304 of the numbers of in-work families with tax credits awards based on final family circumstances and incomes for 200304 are published in Child and Working Tax Credits. Finalised Awards. 200304 Geographical Analysis. This publication and provisional estimates for the number of in-work families by constituency with tax credit awards as at selected dates in 200405 are available on the HMRC website at: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm.

Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the rate of employer contribution to the pension schemes of civil servants employed by HM Revenue and Customs in the most recent year for which figures are available, broken down by (a) classic scheme, (b) premium scheme, (c) classic plus scheme and (d) partnership pension account; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is as follows.
	Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS)
	Accruing Superannuation Liability Charges (ASLCs) are the contributions paid by employers, including HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to the Cabinet Office to provide cover for the PCSPS members they employ.
	The following table shows the annual full-time salary band used to determine the appropriate band of charge for members of the Classic, Classic Plus and Premium schemes, expressed as a percentage.
	The salary bands applicable from 1 April 2004 are:
	
		
			 Salary band Rate of charge Percentage 
		
		
			 Band 1 17,500 and under 12.0 
			 Band 2 17,501 to 36,000 13.5 
			 Band 3 36,001 to 62,000 16.5 
			 Band 4 62,001 and over 18.5 
		
	
	Partnership Pension Account
	Employer age related contributions to the Partnership Pension Account are:
	
		
			 Age at the last 6 April Percentage of pensionable earnings 
		
		
			 Under 21 3.0 
			 21 to 25 4.5 
			 26 to 30 6.5 
			 31 to 35 8.0 
			 36 to 40 10.0 
			 41 to 45 11.5 
			 46 or over 12.5 
		
	
	On top of this, the employer will match any regular member contributions up to 3 per cent. of their pensionable earnings.
	The mini-ASLC for the provision of risk benefits to those opting for Partnership Pension Account arrangements is 0.8 per cent. of member's pensionable earnings.

Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what his estimate is of the cost to the Government of dropping the plans to raise public sector pension ages to 65 years for existing public sector workers in each of the next 40 years; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  pursuant to the announcement on 18 June on public sector pensions reform, what the cost is of his proposal that all new scheme members have the right to retire at age 60 years; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  pursuant to the announcement on 18 June on public sector pensions reform, after which date new scheme entrants will have a normal pension age of 65 years; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The overall savings from increasing pension ages, after allowing for recycling monies into scheme improvements, had been estimated to have a net present value of around 13 billion over the next 50 years. That would have come mostly from long-term savings on new entrants benefits. We still expect comparable net savings once the reforms are finalised. The principles for reforming civil service, NHS and teachers pensions agreed at the Public Services Forum provide that proposals for reforming schemes should be agreed by June 2006 and that new schemes with a normal pension age of 65 should be implemented for new entrants as soon as practicable thereafter. The pension terms for existing members, including pension ages, will be discussed in scheme specific negotiations.

Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the total level of annual contributions made by public sector workers towards the cost of their final salary pension schemes; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: Employee contributions to unfunded public service pension schemes totalled around 4 billion for the financial year 200304. Employee contributions for the funded Local Government Pension Scheme in the same year totalled around 1.5 billion. Government do not hold aggregate estimates of employee contributions in the wider public sector.

Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the real annual growth rate of spending on public sector pensions for (a) 199798 to 200405 and (b) 200405 to 200809; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: Figures for Government spending on unfunded public service pensions that are included within Annually Managed Expenditure are published in table B.1 of the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2005 (PESA). That table covers 19992000 to 200708; a comparable table for earlier years is not available. The PESA table includes payments in respect of transfers of liabilities within central Government as well as payments to pensioners. It does not include unfunded police and firefighter pensions paid by local authorities, which are included within line D.623 of Table 5.3.4S of the United Kingdom National Accountsthe Blue Book2005. Figures for spending on Local Government Pension Scheme benefits in England and Wales are available at:
	www.local.odpm.gov.uk/finance/stats/data/table1.pdf.
	Real terms figures can be calculated using GDP deflators found on HM Treasury's website:
	www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/economic_data_and_tools/gdp_defl ators/data_adp_index.cfm

Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of public sector pensions as a percentage of gross domestic product in (a) 199091, (b) 200304 and (c) 202021; what estimate he has made of savings which may be made under current reform of public sector retirement ages; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The Long Term Public Finance Report, published alongside the pre-Budget report in December 2004 estimated gross expenditure on unfunded public service pensions in 200304 to be 1.5 per cent. of GDP rising to 2.1 per cent. of GDP in 202324 and 2.2 per cent. of GDP in 205354. Comparable figures for 199091 are not available, if the effect of pension age reform had not been included it is estimated that gross expenditure in 205354 would have been 2.4 per cent. of GDP. We still expect comparable savings from higher pension ages once the reforms are finalised.

Public Borrowing

Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the level of public borrowing in 200506.

John Healey: Budget 2005 set out the Government's latest projections for public sector net borrowing in 200506. Updated estimates will be published in the pre-Budget report.

Public Borrowing

Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether public borrowing is estimated to exceed spending at the end of the current financial year.

John Healey: Budget 2005 projections for 200506 for public sector net borrowing and total managed expenditure were respectively 32 billion and 519 billion. Updated estimates will be published in the pre-Budget report.

Secondments

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff in his Department are seconded from accountancy houses; and how many of his officials have worked on secondment to outside accountancy houses.

John Healey: Details of those working in HM Treasury on secondment from other organisations are published on our website at www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/about/about_secondee.cfm.
	Two current employees have worked on secondment to outside accountancy houses.

SIPPS

Hywel Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the English regional assemblies regarding the affordability of housing in rural areas after investment in residential property as part of a self-invested personal pension scheme is allowed on A-Day;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the Deputy Prime Minister regarding the affordability of housing in rural areas in England after investment in residential property as part of a self-invested personal pension scheme is allowed on A-Day;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with the Building Societies Association regarding changes in the level of investment and savings in building societies as a consequence of allowing investment in residential property as part of a self-invested personal pension scheme from A-Day on 6 April 2006;
	(4)  what discussions he has had with the Welsh Assembly Government and the Scottish Executive regarding the affordability of housing in Wales and Scotland after investment in residential property as part of a self-invested personal pension scheme is allowed on A-Day;
	(5)  what assessment he has made of the likely change in the number of self-invested personal pension schemes following A-day on 6 April 2006;
	(6)  what assessment he has made of the potential loss of tax revenue as a consequence of allowing investment in residential property as part of a self-invested personal pension scheme from 6 April 2006;
	(7)  what discussions he has had with the pensions industry on his proposal to allow investment in residential property as part of a self-invested personal pension scheme from A-day on 6 April 2006.

Ivan Lewis: The Government have consulted on the rules for pension simplification twice. The December 2002 consultation Simplifying the taxation of pensions: Increasing Choice and flexibility for all, and the December 2003 consultation Simplifying the taxation of pensions: the Government's proposals set out the framework and the detail of how the simplification of the taxation of pensions would be implemented. Simplification has been widely welcomed by savers and the financial services and pensions industry.
	The regulatory impact assessment (RIA) Simplifying the Taxation of Pensions published in April 2004 set out an assessment of the potential impact of the whole pensions simplification package.
	The Government will keep this aspect of the tax system, as with all others, under review.

Stamp Duty Tax Relief

Hywel Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make an assessment of the merits of introducing stamp duty tax relief in deprived wards.

Ivan Lewis: Relief from stamp duty land tax already applies to purchases of residential property in designated disadvantaged areas where the price paid (or the lease premium) does not exceed 150,000. Qualifying areas include some 40 per cent. of electoral divisions in Wales.

Sustainable Development

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment has been made of progress towards implementation of measures outlined in the last departmental sustainable development action plan; and what progress has been made against each target.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 10 October 2005, Official Report, column 320W.

Sustainable Development

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rating for the Department's estate has been attained under the most recent assessment of the application of BREEAM98.

John Healey: Excellent.

Tax Credits

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been paid to the organisation awarded the contract to run the tax credits system.

Dawn Primarolo: The tax credits IT system went live in April 2003, under an outsourcing contract with EDS. On 1 July 2004 a new contract commenced with Capgemini and they took over the running of the IT system. The identifiable costs paid to these suppliers for running the IT tax credits system up to 31 August 2005, including costs in the pre 'go-live' stages, was 236 million, exclusive of VAT.

Tax Credits

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department has stopped sending out unnecessary duplications of award notices to tax credit claimants; and when changes to stop this happening came into effect.

Dawn Primarolo: An award notice is sent to a claimant in response to their initial claim, each time a change in their circumstances is reported, when their award is finalised and also when their award is renewed for the next year. A copy goes to both members of a joint household.
	HM Revenue and Customs improved the guidance provided to helpline advisers in June 2005. These improvements should ensure that the reporting of multiple changes of circumstances is handled in one process, resulting in the issue of one award notice to cover all the changes reported in the claimant's call.

Tax Credits

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average time taken from HM Revenue and Customs issuing instructions to an employer to stop paying the working tax credit element of the tax credit award and the payments stopping has been in (a) 200304, (b) 200405 and (c) the 200506 tax year; and what the value of overpayments that have been accrued as a result has been in each year.

Dawn Primarolo: This information is not available.
	Employers normally have 42 days to implement a stop notice. However, employers pay working tax credit with, and for the same period as, pay, so the timing of the final payment will depend on the individual employer's payroll arrangements. And where the employee has left the employment before the stop date, the employer may have stopped payment of working tax credit before he receives the stop notice.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost per minute is of calls made to the tax credit hotlines; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The tax credits hotline numbers in tax credit office attract local or national rates depending on where the call is made from. Costs will vary depending upon the caller's service provider.

Tax Credits

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many changes of circumstances were reported to HM Revenue and Customs sections dealing with tax credits in each of the last two financial years.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is not available in the form requested.

Tax Credits

John Barrett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the National Audit Office Report on the Accounts of the Inland Revenue 200405, with particular reference to the potential for tax credit overpayments in 200405.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 19 October 2005, Official Report, column 1109W.

Tax Credits

John Barrett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the analysis of the household survey data for 200304 to provide an estimate of families eligible for, but not claiming, child tax credits will be concluded.

Dawn Primarolo: Work to produce an estimate of the number of families eligible for, but not claiming child tax credit in 200304 is continuing and we expect this analysis to be completed towards the end of 200506.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what budget provision has been made by HM Revenue and Customs for tax credit overpayments which will not be recovered in (a) 200304 and (b) 200405; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Budget provisions relating to tax credits are published in the C and AG's Standard Report of the Accounts of the Inland Revenue 200405 (available at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/about/ir-report2005.pdf). This is a cautious provisionit is not a forecast, and HMRC will be seeking to recover money that is due.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the take-up rates of (a) child tax credits and (b) working tax credits.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to my previous reply to the hon. Member for Tatton (Mr. Osborne) on 19 July 2005, Official Report, column 1700W.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his original estimate was for planning purposes of the level of tax credit overpayments in the new tax credits introduced in 200304; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for Tatton (Mr. Osborne) on 21 July 2005, Official Report, column 2034W.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of tax credits introduced in 2003 on work incentives; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The child and working tax credits, introduced in 2003, build upon previous reforms designed to make work pay, including the working families tax credit. Independent evidence showed that the working families tax credit added over 5 per cent. to the lone parent employment rate. The child and working tax credits offer further improvements including:
	greater financial security on the move into work through an integrated system of support for families both in and out of work;
	enhanced work incentives for second earners through a new, fairer assessment of family income, and a reduction in the rate at which awards are withdrawn;
	tackling child care costs as a barrier to work by supporting up to 80 per cent. of eligible child care costs up to a maximum of 300 per week (or 175 for one child) from April 2006;
	increased gain to work for tenants working part-time by up to 10.70 per week, through better interaction of working tax credit and housing benefit;
	increased gain to work for low-income working people without children, aged over 24 and working more than 30 hours per week, through the extension of in-work support to this group.
	Since April 1999 the minimum income guarantee for a family with one child, working full time, has increased from 182 to 260 per week. For the same family working part-time, the minimum income guarantee has increase from 136 to 202 per week now. Tax credits have been an important part of this improvement.

Tax Credits

Lady Hermon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were in receipt of tax credits in Northern Ireland on 1 October, broken down by (a) tax credit and (b) parliamentary constituency.

Dawn Primarolo: The latest snapshot estimates of the numbers of in-work families with tax credits awards at April 2005 are available in Child and Working Tax Credits. April 2005, which can be found at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-quarterly-stats.htm. These are also available broken down by country and constituency in Child and Working Tax Credits. Geographical Analyses. April 2005. This publication is available on the HMRC website at: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm.

Tax Credits

Lady Hermon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have received an overpayment of tax credits in Northern Ireland in each month since their introduction; and if he will make a statement on steps being taken to address this matter.

William McCrea: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the number of tax credit awards overpaid to people in Northern Ireland in 200405.

Dawn Primarolo: Annual estimates for 200304 of the numbers of in-work families with tax credits awards, including information on overpayments and underpayments by country within the UK, based on final family circumstances and incomes for 200304 are published in Child and Working Tax Credits. Finalised Awards. 200304 Geographical Analysis. This publication and provisional estimates for the number of in-work families by country with tax credit awards as at selected dates in 200405 are available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the reports on the new tax credits system prepared by the Office of Government Commerce and provided to the Prime Minister; and on what dates each was received.

Dawn Primarolo: The Office of Government Commerce provides regular reports to Ministers, including the Prime Minister, on a wide range of issues. Information relating to advice and opinion within Government is not disclosed, as to do so could prejudice internal discussion and advice.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the number of tax credit awards overpaid in 200405; what estimate he has made of how much these overpayments are worth; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the level of overpayment of tax credits in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer my hon. Members to the answer given to the hon. Member for St. Albans (Anne Main) on 13 October 2005, Official Report, column 428.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rationale has been applied in determining the level of the provision for doubtful debt relating to tax credit overpayments as reported in the Department of Inland Revenue 200405 Accounts; to what extent the provision is calculated on (a) a specific and (b) a general basis; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to him on the 19 October 2005, Official Report, column 1103W.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of the administration of tax credits in 200405.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to him on 18 October 2005, Official Report, column 949W.

Tax Credits

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax credit claimants in (a) 200405 and (b) 200506 had their awards reduced by (i) 10 per cent., (ii) 25 per cent. and (iii) 100 per cent. for the recovery of a previous year's overpayment.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Tatton (Mr. Osborne) on 10 October 2005, Official Report, column 326W.

Tax Credits

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money has been overpaid to tax credit recipients in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the north east and (d) the UK in (i) 2004 and (ii) 2005 to date.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Mid- Bedfordshire (Mrs. Dorries) on 10 October 2005, Official Report, column 32122W.

Tax Statistics

John Hemming: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many taxpayers in each parliamentary constituency paid the (a) starting, (b) basic and (c) higher rate of tax in the last year for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: The latest information on the estimated number of income taxpayers and their mean and median total income by constituency, is shown in table 3.15 Total Income by Parliamentary Constituency on the HM Revenue and Customs internet website http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_distribution/table-315.xls.
	The income tax information is based upon the 200203 Survey of Personal Incomes (SPI).
	A breakdown of income taxpayers by tax bands is not available because the sample sizes for marginal rates at constituency level are very small and demonstrate a large variability year on year.

Unemployment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people (a) have been unemployed and (b) have been unemployed in each ward of the Vale of Clwyd in each of the last 30 years.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Chris Ruane, dated 25 October 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about unemployment. I am replying in her absence. (20319)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment from the Labour Force Survey following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions. Table 1 attached, shows estimates of the number unemployed in the UK as a whole, aged 16 and over for the three month period ending in August, for the years 19752005.
	Estimates of unemployment consistent with the ILO definition are not available for wards as the sample size of surveys for such areas is too small. However ONS compiles statistics of Job Seeker's Allowance claimants for wards.
	For the years 1996 to 2004, Table 2 gives annual averages of the number of JSA claimants resident in each ward in the Vale of Clwyd Parliamentary Constituency. Comparable information for the wards on consistent boundaries is not available for years prior to 1996.
	
		Table 1: All persons unemployed aged 16 and over,United Kingdom
		
			 Seasonally adjusted Thousand 
			 Three months ending August each year Level 
		
		
			 1975 1,193 
			 1976 1,425 
			 1977 1,481 
			 1978 1,459 
			 1979 1,422 
			 1980 1,828 
			 1981 2,654 
			 1982 2,877 
			 1983 3,093 
			 1984 3,242 
			 1985 3,139 
			 1986 3.175 
			 1987 2,929 
			 1988 2,416 
			 1989 2,057 
			 1990 2,024 
			 1991 2,585 
			 1992 2,819 
			 1993 2,909 
			 1994 2,691 
			 1995 2,433 
			 1996 2,279 
			 1997 2,015 
			 1998 1,800 
			 1999 1,701 
			 2000 1,523 
			 2001 1,477 
			 2002 1,532 
			 2003 1,498 
			 2004 1,396 
			 2005 1,417 
		
	
	Source:
	ONSLabour Force Survey
	
		Table 2: JSA claimants resident in the Vale of Clwyd parliamentary constituency and in wards within it
		
			 Annual averages 
			  1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Vale of Clwyd parliamentary constituency 2,585 1,875 1,540 1,565 1,340 1,205 1,010 950 905 
			 Vale of Clwyd wards 
			 Trefnant 30 15 15 15 15 15 10 10 5 
			 Denbigh Central 95 60 45 40 35 25 25 25 20 
			 Denbigh Lower 60 50 35 40 25 25 25 20 15 
			 Denbigh Upper 130 90 80 75 60 55 40 40 40 
			 Henllan 15 10 10 10 5 5 5 5 5 
			 Llandymog 25 15 10 15 15 10 5 5 5 
			 Bodelwyddan 60 50 40 35 25 30 20 15 20 
			 Dyserth 75 50 40 45 35 30 25 15 15 
			 Meliden 75 55 45 55 45 40 25 20 15 
			 Prestatyn Central 120 85 55 65 50 45 35 40 30 
			 Prestatyn East 130 85 70 80 55 50 45 40 35 
			 Prestatyn North 135 90 75 85 70 60 55 50 50 
			 Prestatyn South West 70 40 40 45 35 35 30 30 30 
			 Rhuddlan 110 85 60 75 60 40 40 30 30 
			 Rhyl East 200 140 115 105 85 85 80 85 70 
			 Rhyl South 120 85 80 70 65 60 50 50 40 
			 Rhyl South East 200 150 130 125 105 90 70 55 60 
			 Rhyl South West 230 185 150 160 155 145 115 110 115 
			 Rhyl West 590 465 390 380 350 320 280 275 265 
			 St. Asaph East 35 25 20 15 10 15 10 10 15 
			 St. Asaph West 50 30 20 25 15 15 10 10 10 
			 Tremeirchion 30 15 15 15 15 15 10 10 10 
		
	
	Source:
	Jobcentre Plus Administrative system

Unemployment

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the change in the level of unemployment has been in the Jarrow constituency in each year since 1997.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the national statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Stephen Hepburn, dated 25 October 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question on changes in unemployment levels. I am replying in her absence. (21055)
	Table 1, attached, shows the total numbers of unemployed people, aged 16 and over, resident in the Jarrow constituency, for the periods ending in February each year from 1997 to 2004 (based on annual local area Labour Force Survey data) and for April 2004 to March 2005, the latest available data, from the Annual Population Survey. These estimates as with any sample survey are subject to sampling variability and estimates of year to year change are not reliable.
	The Office for National Statistics also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for local areas. Tables 2, attached, shows the annual average number of adult JSA claimants resident in the Jarrow constituency, for 1997 to 2004, and year on year changes in these numbers.
	The data are published on the Office for National Statistics's Nomis(r) website: www.nomisweb.co.uk
	
		Table 1: Unemployed people aged 16 and over in the Jarrow constituency
		
			 Thousand 
			 12 months ending Number of unemployed 
		
		
			 February 1997 5 
			 February 1998 5 
			 February 1999 3 
			 February 2000 4 
			 February 2001 4 
			 February 2002 4 
			 February 2003 3 
			 February 2004 3 
			 March 2005 3 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. These estimates are based on very small sample sizes and are subject to a very high degree of sampling variability.
	2. Changes from year to year, especially, should be treated with caution.
	Source:
	Annual local area Labour Force Survey; Annual Population Survey.
	
		Table 2: JSA claimants (aged 18 to 24) and change from the previous year(34) in the Jarrow constituency
		
			 Annual averages JSA Claimants Change on year 
		
		
			 1997 3,120  
			 1998 2,765 -355 
			 1999 2,820 55 
			 2000 2,625 -195 
			 2001 2,375 -250 
			 2002 2,275 -105 
			 2003 1,985 -285 
			 2004 1,740 -245 
		
	
	(34) Both the number of claimants and the change on year are rounded to the nearest five but the changes are calculated from unrounded numbers.
	Source:
	Jobcentre Plus Administrative system.

Unemployment

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of youth unemployment has been in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each year since 1997.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Stephen Hepburn, dated 25 October 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about youth unemployment. I am replying in her absence. (21056)
	Table 1 attached, shows the total number of unemployed youths (aged 16 to 24) in the Jarrow constituency, South Tyneside local authority, North East Government Office Region and for the UK for the periods ending in February each year from 1997 to 2004 (based on annual local area Labour Force Survey data) and for April 2004 to March 2005, the latest available data, from the Annual Population Survey. These estimates, as with any sample survey, are subject to sampling variability.
	The Office for National Statistics also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for local areas. Table 2, attached, shows the annual average number of JSA claimants aged 18 to 24 resident in the Jarrow constituency, South Tyneside, North East Government Office Region and the UK for 1997 to 2004.
	The data are published on the Office for National Statistics' Nomis(r) website: www.nomisweb.co.uk.
	
		Table 1: Numbers of unemployed, aged 16 to 24, resident in the Jarrow constituency, South Tyneside local authority, North East Government Office Region and UK
		
			 12 months ending Jarrow South Tyneside North East UK 
		
		
			 February 1997 2 3 33 684 
			 February 1998 2 2 36 616 
			 February 1999 1 2 27 583 
			 February 2000 1 3 34 556 
			 February 2001 1 3 34 535 
			 February 2002 1 2 30 525 
			 February 2003 1 2 28 553 
			 February 2004 2 3 34 557 
			 March 2005 1 2 31 559 
		
	
	Note:
	The estimates for local areas are based on very small sample sizes and are subject to a very high degree of sampling variability. Changes from year to year, especially, should be treated with caution.
	Source:
	Annual local area Labour Force Survey; Annual Population Survey
	
		Table 2: JSA claimants, aged 18 to 24, resident in the Jarrow constituency, South Tyneside local authority, North East Government Office Region and UK
		
			 Annual averages Jarrow South Tyneside North East UK 
		
		
			 1997 800 1,800 25,670 406,415 
			 1998 665 1,500 22,680 339,000 
			 1999 655 1,460 20,505 294,125 
			 2000 585 1,300 19,030 261,470 
			 2001 555 1,235 17,580 241,220 
			 2002 525 1,170 16,920 242,930 
			 2003 510 1,160 16,365 249,055 
			 2004 465 1,085 14,680 235,910 
		
	
	Source:
	Jobcentre Plus Administrative System

Workless Households

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of children have lived in households with two adults, neither in work in each year since 1982; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. David Laws, dated 25 October 2005
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about children living with two adults, neither of whom is working. (20687)
	The attached table gives the proportion of children who live with a married or cohabiting couple in which neither partner is working, for the three month period to May of each year from 1992 to 2005. These estimates are from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). Information for previous years is not available.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to sampling error.
	
		Proportion of all children who live with a married or cohabiting couple in which neither partner is working(35)(5508220036)(37): 1992 to 2005United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted
		
			 March to May Per cent 
		
		
			 1992 10.1 
			 1993 10.0 
			 1994 10.0 
			 1995 9.0 
			 1996 8.6 
			 1997 7.4 
			 1998 6.7 
			 1999 6.2 
			 2000 5.7 
			 2001 5.5 
			 2002 5.7 
			 2003 4.9 
			 2004 5.0 
			 2005 5.1 
		
	
	(35) Children under 16 years old.
	(36) Children who live with a workless couple as a percentage of all children.
	(37) Estimates take into account couples with unknown economic status.
	Source:
	ONS Labour Force Survey

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Architects Registration Board

John Gummer: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he next expects to make appointments to the Architects Registration Board.

Yvette Cooper: The Secretary of State has powers to make recommendations to the Privy Council in respect of the appointment of lay members to the board. The council then makes appointments. One vacancy is currently being filled; three further appointments will need to be made with effect from 1 April 2006.

Architects Registration Board

John Gummer: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what appeal process is available to architects who have had complaints against them upheld by the Architects Registration Board.

Yvette Cooper: The Architects Act 1997 provides that any person may appeal to the civil courts about removal of his name from the Register of Architects or the making of a disciplinary order against him. Persons may also apply for judicial review of any decision made by the board.

Admiralty House

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the Answer of 5 July 2005, Official Report, column 298W, on council tax, what contribution his Department has made towards the total maintenance, renovation and running costs of Admiralty House, in each year since its establishment; and what the estimated figure is for 200506.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The total cost of maintaining, renovating, and running Admiralty House in 200203, 200304 and 200405 was 345,929, 216,487 and 246,284. The estimated figure for 200506 is 269,126. These figures exclude business rates and council tax payable on the building. The cost covers work across the whole of Admiralty House which, as well as three flats assigned to Ministers by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, includes function rooms used by Government for more than 200 events every year.
	The operation of Admiralty House is covered by a single facilities management contract which covers maintenance, renovation, security and running costs. It is not possible, within the overall total, to separately identify the costs that arise from the three flats in Admiralty House, although for internal accounting purposes the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister meets 20.7 per cent. of the costs of the operation of the entire building. This is calculated on the basis of the floor area of the flat occupied by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister, as a proportion of the total floor area of Admiralty House. The actual amounts paid by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in each year reflect that the Office was established in May 2002, and thus did not pay costs for the whole of 200203, and benefited from an internal accounting adjustment that reduced ODPM's contribution in 200304. In addition there were minor works specific to the flat occupied by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister, amounting to 1,087 in 200405 and 159 to date in 200506.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the (a) gross total expenditure and (b) gross revenue raised from council tax in each precepting and billing local authority in England was in the latest year for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: Details of (a) total service expenditure and (b) the council tax requirement for 200405 are published on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website and can be found at http://www.local.odpm.gov.uk/finance/stats/0405pro.xls at line 699 and line 890 respectively.
	The data are as reported by local authorities and are taken from Revenue Summary returns for 200405.

Council Tax

Adam Holloway: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many pensioners in Gravesham have experienced increases in their council taxes since 1997.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

Council Tax

Richard Spring: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average band D council tax has been in Suffolk in each year since the establishment of the council tax.

Phil Woolas: Details of the average band D council tax in each authority in Suffolk in each year since establishment of the council tax are published on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website. The details can be found under Information For Taxpayers at Council Taxes and Historical Data Archive which can be found at: http://www.local.odpm.gov.uk/finance/ct.htm.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what (a) costs and (b) contractual liabilities were incurred for the council tax revaluation in England by (i) the Valuation Office Agency and (ii) central Government prior to its postponement.

Phil Woolas: The Valuation Office Agency has incurred approximately 60 million in costs and contractual liabilities in relation to the revaluation in England prior to its postponement. Some 45 million will be of potential use in the future for the Agency's routine business or revaluation at a later date. Costs incurred by central Government are not separately identified.

Departmental Finance

John Pugh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the phrase corporate overhead in the Department's business plan covers.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Corporate Overhead budget provides money for essential operational services, activities and costs which are procured or managed centrally. The chief elements of this are: accommodation costs; cost of capital and depreciation on our assets; provision of IT services; long-term sickness and maternity pay; and centrally funded training.

Empty Homes

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the timetable is for introducing secondary legislation on empty dwelling management orders.

Yvette Cooper: The Government published the detailed programme for commencement of the Housing Act 2004 on Monday 10 October. There will be a phased introduction of the provisions, leading to a common commencement date of 6 April 2006 for the provisions contained within the Housing Act 2004, including Empty Dwelling Management Orders. The full timetable, setting out the phased introduction of these provisions, has been listed as follows.
	Housing Act 2004implementation of HHSRS, licensing, EDMO and TDS
	Week commencing 28 November 2005
	Lay HHSRS SI
	Publish draft licensing SIs for limited consultation (two weeks max.)
	Publish draft EDMO SI for limited consultation
	Publish consultation paper on tenancy deposit protection SIs
	Week commencing 30 January 2006
	Lay licensing SIs
	Lay EDMO SI
	Lay ACOP and student exemption SI
	Publish private landlords project toolkit
	Week commencing 13 March 2006
	Lay RPT SIs
	6 April 2006
	Commence HHSRS
	Commence licensing (parts 2 and 3) except enforcement provisions
	Commence EDMO and part 4
	Commence RPT and new lands tribunal rules
	Commence ACOP and students exemption
	Commence part 7 provisions
	Commence trans arrangements and repeal HA 85 provisions
	Announce successful bids for TDS
	3 July 2006
	Commence parts 2 and 3 enforcement and RROS
	Lay tenancy deposit protection SI
	Week commencing 2 October 2006
	Commence tenancy deposit protection

Fire Control Centres

Mike Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will meet the Hampshire fire and rescue authority to discuss the proposal for a South East regional fire control centre.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I have now announced the locations of the eight new English regional fire control centres outside London, including the one in the South East. On 16 August I made a very interesting visit to Hampshire fire and rescue authority, within whose boundaries the South East regional fire control centre will lie. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister recognises the importance of elected members as key partners in delivering this project, and will be holding a series of meetings for elected Members for every region from November 2005 into early 2006 to deal with any issues they may wish to raise. Dates for these will be published shortly.

Fires

Paul Burstow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) accidental and (b) non-accidental fires were recorded in each London borough in each year since 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA) have supplied the information in the following table on the number of fires attended in each London borough from 19992000 to 200405. Data prior to these dates is not available.
	
		(a) Accidental fires attended in each London borough, 19992000 to 200405
		
			  19992000 200001 200102 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 567 481 610 516 605 546 
			 Barnet 750 671 635 589 821 637 
			 Bexley 458 367 477 371 547 500 
			 Brent 801 681 759 673 820 615 
			 Bromley 596 497 510 452 632 477 
			 Camden 843 735 808 787 724 753 
			 City of London 100 116 120 98 112 107 
			 Croydon 876 743 820 632 915 657 
			 Ealing 751 682 638 682 910 720 
			 Enfield 659 584 665 562 775 682 
			 Greenwich 864 713 815 701 853 623 
			 Hackney 990 879 739 680 877 910 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 513 489 454 422 504 467 
			 Haringey 731 670 717 643 677 639 
			 Harrow 342 332 348 353 433 340 
			 Havering 545 437 514 415 570 471 
			 Hillingdon 675 600 652 597 857 637 
			 Hounslow 656 580 597 528 725 475 
			 Islington 708 615 658 576 665 552 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 513 480 477 385 471 400 
			 Kingston upon Thames 336 312 302 281 363 272 
			 Lambeth 1,116 1,028 1,110 918 961 841 
			 Lewisham 692 693 718 641 840 676 
			 Merton 513 424 468 438 496 361 
			 Newham 1,013 757 875 756 989 821 
			 Redbridge 549 461 483 467 841 553 
			 Richmond upon Thames 330 261 309 271 428 270 
			 Southwark 1,091 1,043 1,088 994 1,162 1,066 
			 Sutton 396 340 367 341 402 328 
			 Tower Hamlets 1,216 1,039 1,123 967 1,125 979 
			 Waltham Forest 690 543 590 501 789 541 
			 Wandsworth 745 659 710 656 760 621 
			 Westminster 1,133 1,077 1,111 971 1,004 977 
			 Unknown 241 178 51 10 47 14 
			 Total 22,999 20,167 21,318 18,874 23,700 19,528 
		
	
	
		(b) Non-accidental fires attended in each London borough, 19992000 to 200405
		
			  19992000 200001 200102 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 1,269 1,457 1,839 1,539 2,344 656 
			 Barnet 596 580 698 702 814 620 
			 Bexley 992 860 1,272 920 1,417 539 
			 Brent 506 548 610 545 693 577 
			 Bromley 1,106 1,236 1,362 1,245 1,503 620 
			 Camden 547 566 662 682 584 647 
			 City of London 25 12 15 16 16 89 
			 Croydon 876 831 1,125 841 1,171 668 
			 Ealing 742 729 1,085 847 943 690 
			 Enfield 819 761 1,161 982 1,342 664 
			 Greenwich 1,540 1,522 1,952 1,578 2,413 708 
			 Hackney 1,078 1,453 1,874 1,246 1,087 827 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 257 300 292 313 327 389 
			 Haringey 717 666 851 748 748 592 
			 Harrow 261 330 477 392 407 310 
			 Havering 686 823 1,317 1,058 1,525 539 
			 Hillingdon 914 934 1,344 1,265 1,267 625 
			 Hounslow 951 788 1,277 1,048 1,384 552 
			 Islington 1,028 942 1,139 1,119 1,039 518 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 175 154 187 129 197 345 
			 Kingston upon Thames 230 241 309 245 346 273 
			 Lambeth 1,007 1,012 933 777 810 762 
			 Lewisham 914 823 865 793 975 646 
			 Merton 563 510 679 604 720 353 
			 Newham 1,994 1,992 2,747 2,133 1,983 849 
			 Redbridge 420 549 838 690 822 577 
			 Richmond upon Thames 254 248 229 254 326 257 
			 Southwark 1,362 1,421 1,648 1,342 1,362 988 
			 Sutton 384 460 622 540 720 332 
			 Tower Hamlets 1,845 2,178 2,911 2,176 2,403 1,113 
			 Waltham Forest 653 579 723 784 976 544 
			 Wandsworth 630 506 561 474 611 594 
			 Westminster 317 388 403 395 301 800 
			 Unknown 319 240 98 30 39 15 
			 Total 25,977 26,639 34,105 28,452 33,615 19,278 
		
	
	Note:
	The number of fires attended includes both primary and secondary fires.
	Source:
	London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA)

Fires

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many fires broke out in Essex in the last year for which figures are available; and what percentage were caused by arson.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Information on the number of fires attended by Essex fire and rescue service in 200405 is shown in the following table.
	
		Fires attended in 200405 by Essex FRS
		
			  Primary fires Secondary fires 
		
		
			 Accidental 1,736 3,842 
			 Deliberate 1,530 1,143 
			 Total 3,266 4,985 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures are provisional and were published on 13 October 2005.
	Source:
	Fire and Rescue Service FDR1 and FDR3 returns to ODPM.
	In the year 200405, 47 per cent. of primary fires and 23 per cent. of secondary fires were started deliberately. Overall, 32 per cent. were started deliberately.

Greater London Authority

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what extra (a) powers and (b) responsibilities the Government are considering transferring to the Greater London authority.

Yvette Cooper: The Government are considering a number of powers and responsibilities for transfer to the Greater London authority, and will consult on its proposals later this autumn.

Green Belt

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what planning guidance and publications the Government have published since May 1997 that relate to the development of Traveller sites on (a) green field and (b) Green Belt sites.

Yvette Cooper: The draft Circular 'Planning for Gypsy and Traveller Sites' was issued for consultation in 2004, and includes guidance on development in the Green Belt which is in line with the policies in Planning Policy Guidance 2, published in 1995. Planning restrictions in the Green Belt are the same for Gypsies and Travellers as they are for the settled community.
	The Government have published various Planning Policy Statements and Guidance since May 1997 that support the general policy presumption of development of appropriately located, previously developed sites, for any purpose, in preference to development of green field sites.

Green Belt

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will take steps to prevent further development of green belt land beyond existing commitments; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Government have made clear that they remain committed to the green belt. We do not have any plans to change the existing policy in Planning Policy Guidance note (PPG) 2, Green Belts, that strictly controls development in the green belt. There is a general presumption against inappropriate development in the green belt which should not be approved, except in very special circumstances.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) has been consulting on proposals to introduce a new Green Belt Direction that would ensure closer scrutiny of planning applications for inappropriate development that would significantly impact on the openness of the green belt, before approval could be given. ODPM is considering the responses it has received to the public consultation draft of the new Direction.
	The Government have set a target for each English region to maintain or increase the area designated as green belt in local plans. Any proposals to establish new green belts, or to change the general extent of existing green belts, should be considered as part of a review of the regional spatial strategy, or the London Plan, in the first instance. This process will ensure that the proposals are subject to public consultation and discussion through an examination in public before an independent panel.
	Similarly, any proposal to alter (exceptionally) a detailed green belt boundary should be considered through the preparation or review of a development plan document. This process is led by the local planning authority and is subject to community involvement and independent examination.

Homelessness

Lorely Burt: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what further measures the Government plans to introduce to tackle homelessness in London.

Yvette Cooper: Our strategy 'Sustainable communities:
	settled homes; changing lives' sets out our aims to reduce homelessness and halve the number of households in temporary accommodation by 2010.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will work with London boroughs,
	Government Office for London, Greater London authority, Association of Local Government and other organisations in London to deliver the strategy and further reduce levels of rough sleeping in the capital.

Housing

David Laws: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people in England have been registered as homeless and needing accommodation in each year from 19992000 to 200506, broken down by local authority area; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: Information collected about local authorities' actions under homelessness legislation is in respect of households rather than persons. A table presenting reported information on the number of households accepted by each local authority in England as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, and consequently owed a main homelessness duty in each year since 19992000, has been placed in the Library of the House.
	The duty owed to a person accepted as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need is to secure suitable accommodation. If a settled home is not immediately available, the authority may secure temporary accommodation until a settled home becomes available. As an alternative to the provision of temporary accommodation some authorities arrange for households to remain in their current accommodation (homeless at home), until a settled solution becomes available.

Housing

David Laws: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average time taken to place homeless families in permanent accommodation was in each local authority in England in the last period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: Information reported quarterly by local authorities on their activities under homelessness legislation includes the number of households that, during the quarter, left temporary accommodation provided by the authority, or who were no longer registered as homeless at home, by the length of stay in broad time bands. The information covers all households, which will include families but also single person households. These households will have been provided with some form of settled accommodation, or those who left the accommodation voluntarily, as well as those who ceased to be eligible or who became intentionally homeless.
	A table which presents the proportion of households in each time band during 200405 (the latest year available), for each local authority in England, has been placed in the Library of the House.

Housing

Celia Barlow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many affordable housing units expected to be built or procured through the Housing Corporation Approved Development Programme and Challenge Fund will be (a) mixed funded social rented housing, (b) temporary social rented housing, (c) homebuy general market purchase, (d) homebuy general new build, (e) mixed funded low cost home ownership for sale, (f) miscellaneous works to Registered Social Landlord (RSL) stock, (g) reimprovements to rented RSL stock, (h) works only rehabilitation of rented RSL stock, (i) works only rehabilitation of RSL stock for sale, (j) intermediate rent for key workers, (k) homebuy market purchase for key workers, (l) homebuy new build for key workers, (m) mixed funded sale for key workers, (n) right to acquire, (o) voluntary purchase grant, (p) starter home initiative, (q) do-it-yourself shared ownership and (r) temporary intermediate and market rent housing in the south-east region in (i) 200506, (ii) 200607 and (iii) 200708; and how much will be spent on each category in each year.

Yvette Cooper: The tables show the latest estimated completions and expenditure in the south-east region for 200506 through the Housing Corporation Approved Development Programme, including Challenge Fund, for categories from (a) to (r) . Funding and completions are not directly comparable, as funding will relate to projects running, not necessarily units completed, in any one year.
	
		Estimated completions for south-east region in 200506
		
			   Units 
		
		
			 (a) Mixed Funded Social Rent 2,849 
			 (b) Temporary Social Rent 0 
			 (c) Homebuy Market Purchase 195 
			 (d) Homebuy New Build 41 
			 (e) Mixed Funded for Sale 1,580 
			 (f) Misc. works to RSL stock 241 
			 (g) Reimprovements to RSL rented stock 28 
			 (h) Works only rehabilitation of RSL rented stock 18 
			 (i) Works only rehabilitation of RSL stock for Sale 10 
			 (j) Intermediate rent for Key Workers 562 
			 (k) Homebuy Market Purchase for Key Workers 1,639 
			 (1) Homebuy New Build for Key Workers 62 
			 (m) Mixed Funded for Sale for Key Workers 609 
			 (n) Right to Acquire 17 
			 (o) Voluntary Purchase Grant 13 
			 (p) Starter Home Initiative 0 
			 (q) Do-it-yourself-shared Ownership 0 
			 (r) Temporary intermediate and Market rent housing 0 
		
	
	
		Estimated expenditure in south-east region for 200506
		
			million 
		
		
			 (a) Mixed Funded Social Rent 138.089 
			 (b) Temporary Social Rent 0.000 
			 (c) Homebuy Market Purchase 7.247 
			 (d) Homebuy New Build 0.150 
			 (e) Mixed Funded for Sale 24.261 
			 (f) Misc. works to RSL stock 0.551 
			 (g) Reimprovements to RSL rented stock 0.367 
			 (h) Works only rehabilitation of RSL rented stock 0.886 
			 (i) Works only rehabilitation of RSL stock for Sale 0.009 
			 (j) Intermediate rent for Key Workers 9.865 
			 (k) Homebuy Market Purchase for Key Workers 63.037 
			 (1) Homebuy New Build for Key Workers 1.875 
			 (m) Mixed Funded for Sale for Key Workers 20.443 
			 (n) Right to Acquire 0.221 
			 (o) Voluntary Purchase Grant 0.200 
			 (p) Starter Home Initiative 0.000 
			 (q) Do-it-yourself-shared Ownership 0.000 
			 (r) Temporary intermediate and Market rent housing 0.000 
		
	
	Source:
	Housing Corporation Information Management System as at 12 October 2005. Categories f, g, h, and i are not counted as completions and figures are only provided for illustrative purposes.
	For 200607 and 200708 Regional Housing Boards have made recommendations to Ministers for the allocation of Regional Housing Pots funds. The South East Regional Housing Board has recommended that from their allocation of 805 million for the two years a total of 744 million should be allocated to the provision of affordable housing. However, the exact distribution of funding between programmes for 200608 will not be known until the completion of the Housing Corporation's bidding process.
	In August 2005 the Housing Corporation launched the bidding round for the 200608 Affordable Housing Programme (AHP). This invited both registered social landlords and non-registered bodies to apply for funds to develop affordable housing based on priorities set by the Regional Housing Boards. The outcome of this bidding round will not be known until early in 2006.

Housing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of (a) local authority housing, (b) housing association housing and (c) private rented accommodation reaches the Decent Homes Standard, broken down by region; and what proportion in each case he estimates will reach the standard by 2010.

Yvette Cooper: Data from the 2003 English House Condition Survey (EHCS) are currently only available at a national level. These data have been published in EHCS 2003: key findings, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. A regional breakdown of 2003 EHCS will be published in due course.
	In the social sector, work completed and plans in place will take The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister 90 per cent. of the way to meeting our target . We are now focusing our efforts on the remaining 10 per cent.
	In the private sector we are on course for 70 per cent. of vulnerable households to have decent homes by 2010.

Housing

Adam Holloway: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received from the Regional Housing Board on the amount of affordable housing needed in (a) Kent and (b) Gravesham.

Yvette Cooper: The South East Regional Housing Board made recommendations to my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on the provision of affordable housing in its South East Regional Housing Strategy published on 30 June 2005. One of the key priorities identified in the strategy is the need to increase the provision of affordable housing in the region. In recognition of this, the board recommended that almost 92 per cent. of its funding should be used to increase provision of affordable homes. The Regional Housing Board has prioritised the growth areas (Ashford, Dartford, Gravesham, Medway, Swale) and other areas in Kent (Maidstone, Canterbury) for affordable housing funding.
	The amount of affordable housing needed is determined locally in local housing strategies and development plans, and it is for local authorities in consultation with the Housing Corporation to agree numbers of units. The amount of housing brought forward depends upon the number and quality of bids made to the Housing Corporation for funding. Each bid is assessed against a number of criteria including value for money, design quality, environmental fitness and deliverability.

Housing

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the affordability of shared ownership schemes in areas of high house prices; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: It is important that low cost home ownership schemes are affordable for our identified client groups, including social tenants and key public sector workers.
	While traditional shared ownership schemes have been successful we do accept that there may be cases where people in higher value areas find it difficult to access schemes, or difficult to increase their share of ownership after initial purchase.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Housing Corporation keep the general operation of the schemes under review to ensure that they meet our policy objectives and the needs of the intended client groups.
	The issue of affordability of low cost home ownership schemes has also been examined:
	through the work of the Home Ownership Task Force, that reported in November 2003. Its report is available from the Housing Corporation's website.
	through the analysis of responses to our 'HomebuyExpanding the Opportunity to Own' consultation paper, a copy of which is available from the Library of the House.
	as part of the analysis set out in the Supporting Document to the Homebuy consultation paper.
	As a result of this, our new range of Homebuy schemeswhich will be available from April 2006aim to be more affordable for purchasers, while remaining viable for providers.
	We have also set out how we will ensure that households accessing Homebuy are able to sustain home ownership. Applicants will be subject to a series of rigorous and transparent checks at the outset, to ensure that they are able to shoulder the financial responsibilities. We will also put in place a range of measures to provide assistance to those who encounter financial difficulties after they have purchased.
	Full details of the new range of Homebuy schemes are set out in the Government's response to the consultation, available on the Office's website.
	We will continue to monitor and assess the new range of Homebuy schemes to ensure that they provide affordable and accessible routes to home ownership.

Housing

Adam Holloway: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much was allocated to council house refits for disabled people in (a) Kent and (b) Gravesham in the last year for which figures are available; and what proportion this represents of the total council housing budget in each case.

Yvette Cooper: Expenditure on disabled/elderly adaptations for Gravesham and for all stock-owning local authorities within Kent (including Gravesham) is shown in the following table, along with the total capital expenditure and the proportion of the total capital spend that was used for disabled/elderly adaptations. These data were reported to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister by local authorities.
	
		
			  Local authority/county 
			  Kent Gravesham 
		
		
			 Expenditure on disabled/elderly adaptations 200304 (000) 1,139 51 
			 Total expenditure on capital works 200304 (000) 31,007 3,982 
			 Proportion of capital expenditure spent on disabled/elderly adaptations 200304 (percentage) 3.7 1.3

Housing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will estimate (a) the amount of outside funding brought into social housing by large-scale voluntary transfers in the last two years and (b) the contributions by Government to the costs of arms length management organisations in the last two years.

Yvette Cooper: The amount of private finance brought into social housing by large-scale voluntary transfers (LSVT) was 409 million (200304) and 1.2 billion (200405).
	The contribution by Government to the ALMO programme was 321 million (200304) and 577 million (200405).

Key Workers

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the categories of people who qualify for key worker status; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The eligibility requirements for each of the Government's key worker initiatives vary by region and criteria are constantly kept under review. Up to date eligibility requirements are published on the Housing Corporation's website.

Key Workers

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment the Government has made of the take-up rates for the Government's key workers' initiative schemes.

Yvette Cooper: An evaluation of the key worker living scheme is currently under way, with the final report due in 2006. The interim report was published on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website on 31 August.

Key Workers

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the eligibility requirements are for each of the Government's key worker initiative schemes.

Yvette Cooper: The eligibility requirements for each of the Government's key worker initiatives vary by region and criteria are constantly kept under review. Up to date eligibility requirements are published on the Housing Corporation's website.

Local Authority Expenditure

David Mundell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the expenditure per head was in each local authority in England for (a) public order and safety, (b) enterprise and economic development, (c) science and technology, (d) employment, (e) agriculture, fisheries and forestry, (f) transport, (g) environmental protection, (h) housing and community amenities, (i) health, (j) recreation, culture and religion, (k) education and training and (l) social protection in the last year for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: The data are not collected centrally for the breakdown requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister collect revenue expenditure data from each local authority in England on the annual Revenue Outturn (RO) suite of forms. Documents have been placed in the Library of the House showing provisional 200405 expenditure per head data by local authority for each of the main service areas collected.

Local Government Cabinets

John Pugh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the Government plan to conduct a review of the cabinet system in local government.

Phil Woolas: The outcomes in local authorities of the constitutional arrangements, including the cabinet system, introduced by the Local Government Act 2000, are the subject of a five year research project, funded by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, which is due to conclude in 2007.

Local Government White Paper

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the timetable is for the publication of the Local Government White Paper.

Phil Woolas: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister launched a debate on the future of local government, local: vision, in July 2004, with the aim of developing a new blueprint for local government that is shared between central and local government and other key stakeholders. Further details on how we intend to draw the debate back together and the next steps will be forthcoming in due course.

Micro-bikes

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he has taken to encourage local authorities to work with trading standards officers to ensure local retailers of micro-bikes act responsibly in making clear to customers the legal position regarding their use.

Phil Woolas: None. It is for local trading standards to decide what advice they should give to businesses having regard to local circumstances and priorities.

Mobile Phone Masts

Adam Holloway: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many planning permission applications have been granted for mobile phone masts in Gravesham since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	However, during September and October every year the mobile network operators write to every local authority with details of their network rollout for the year ahead. When they write to the local authority they also provide details of their existing sites within the local authority area. The hon. Member may want to contact the network operators for copies of their plans.

Pathfinder Renewal Project

Jim Cousins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much of the capital modernisation fund was spent in each pathfinder renewal project, broken down by investment in (a) renewal, (b) clearance, (c) land purchase and (d) consultants.

Yvette Cooper: Each of the nine housing market renewal pathfinders was awarded 2.66 million from the Capital Modernisation Fund. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not have information on the way in which it was spent that can be broken down in the way specified. However, the purpose of this grant was to help the pathfinders to build capacity and develop their strategies.

Pathfinder Renewal Project

Jim Cousins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost to the Newcastle-Gateshead pathfinder is over the next three years of funding a team of regeneration specialists to be employed by Newcastle city council.

Yvette Cooper: The Newcastle Gateshead housing market renewal pathfinder submitted its future spending plans to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in September 2005, as part of its scheme update. We will be considering its proposals, including those relating to staff costs, during the next few months.

Planning Delivery Grants

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the merits of allocating a greater proportion of the planning delivery grant budget to growth areas designated by the Sustainable Communities Plan;
	(2)  what the level of planning delivery grant for high housing demand and growth areas was for 200506; what the proposed level for 200607 is; and what representations he has received on this subject.

Yvette Cooper: The Planning Delivery Grant (PDG) is designed to reward local planning authorities (LPAs) across the country on a variety of different performance criteria to enable them to improve all aspects of the service they provide. The bulk of the grant is allocated on the basis of criteria relating to performance and workload of all LPAs. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has, however, also taken into account the extra needs of authorities in growth areas to enable them to deliver the growth required in the Sustainable Communities Plan.
	In the 200506 PDG allocations, 16 million (9.4 per cent. of total PDG) was allocated to high housing demand and growth areas. We issued a consultation document in July on allocation criteria for the grant in 200607. This proposed that the percentage of grant allocated to growth areas should be 8.9 per cent. (12 million). We received 75 responses to the consultation, 23 of which commented on high housing and growth area allocations.

Public Open Space

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recommended acreage of public open space has been set for each local authority; and how much is available in each local authority listed in descending order according to the greatest difference.

Phil Woolas: Planning Policy Guidance 17: Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation sets out national (England-only) guidance on open space provision. It states that open space standards are best set locally, to take into account demographic profiles, the existing built environment and local needs. PPG 17 and the accompanying good practice guidance give local authorities advice on setting local standards on quality, quantity and accessibility. Local authorities are not required to make information on local open spaces available to central Government.

Regional Assemblies

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 11 October 2005, Official Report, column 444W, on regional assemblies, whether his Department holds copies of the corporate plans of the regional assemblies;
	(2)  whether his Department holds copies of documents containing the projected 200506 budgets of the regional chambers.

Yvette Cooper: Regional assemblies prepare three year business/corporate plans and submit them to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to inform decisions on annual funding allocations. Each assembly publishes copies of these reports on their website.

Regional Assemblies

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether financing of possible elected regional assemblies remains part of the remit of the Lyons' Inquiry.

Phil Woolas: Yes. However, Sir Michael Lyons is aware of the statement to the House by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on 8 November 2004 that the Government would not be introducing the Regional Assemblies Bill and would not be calling further referendums on elected assemblies, Official Report, 8 November 2004, columns 58789.

Regional Assemblies

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the Audit Commission audits regional chambers in England.

Phil Woolas: The Audit Commission makes arrangements for the external audit to be undertaken for one regional assembly in England: the Yorkshire and Humber assembly.

Sex Offenders

Joan Walley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will introduce regulations to prohibit individuals on the sexual offenders register from serving on local authorities.

Phil Woolas: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no plans to introduce such regulations.

Solar Power (Buildings)

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will change new build regulations to require the inclusion of solar power.

Yvette Cooper: The Building Regulations set levels of required energy performance rather than prescribing solutions. This approach offers designers the flexibility to choose technologies that best meet their needs, that are cost-effective and practical, and that enable innovation. Without prescribing solutions the current requirements do enable builders to take the benefits of solar panels and other 'low and zero carbon' technologies such as wind generators, heat pumps and wood pellet stoves.

Supporting People Initiative

David Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the Audit Commission's report on the Supporting People initiative.

Phil Woolas: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister welcomes the Audit Commission's report on supporting people. We believe that the Audit Commission has done an excellent job in producing a well balanced and carefully considered report which clearly highlights both the areas of concern and the benefits of the programme. The report provides a helpful base for authorities and providers to build on in improving services and in the commissioning and management of the programme.

Supporting People Initiative

David Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many Government (a) Departments and (b) agencies are involved in the administration of the Supporting People initiative.

Phil Woolas: Due to the cross-cutting nature of supporting people there are five Government Departments directly involved in the administration of the programme. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is the lead Department responsible for managing and administering the programme. The four other Government Departments involved are the Department for Work and Pensions, Department of Health, Home Office and Department for Education and Skills. No Government agencies are directly involved in the administration of supporting people, but the Audit Commission is responsible for undertaking inspections of local authorities to monitor implementation.

Supporting People Initiative

David Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions his Department has had with the Local Government Association on the Supporting People initiative.

Phil Woolas: Ministers and officials have ongoing discussions with a wide range of stakeholders, including the Local Government Association, on issues related to the Supporting People programme.

Telecommunications Masts

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what regulations apply to Network Rail telecommunications masts being used to provide mobile phone telecommunication services for the general public.

Yvette Cooper: The normal regulations in place throughout England apply, unless exempted by the regulations set out in part 24 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (GPDO) as amended by SI 2115/2003.

Traveller Sites

Adam Holloway: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if his Department will introduce measures allowing local communities to have greater involvement in decisions on where official Traveller sites are placed.

Yvette Cooper: Councils should involve local communities in the creation of Development Plan Documents. The way in which this will happen will be set out in the Local Planning Authority's Statement of Community Involvement. Interested parties can also comment on individual planning applications and at appeals.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcohol Sales

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been in each of the last five years for selling alcohol to minors.

Hazel Blears: The available information, relating to sales of alcohol to under-18s in England and Wales from 1999 to 2003, is shown in the table. Data for 2004 will be available in late November. In addition, the Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND) scheme was brought into effect in England and Wales during 200304 to provide the police with a quick and effective means of dealing with minor offences.
	Under the scheme an offender is issued with a fixed penalty notice and has 21 days in which to pay the penalty or request a court hearing. The offence of selling alcohol to persons aged under eighteen years was added to the PND scheme on one November 2004. In England and Wales, 113 PNDs were issued for sale of alcohol to under-18s in 2004, with 280 issued from January to June in 2005.
	
		Defendants proceeded against at magistrates' courts for offences relating to the sale of alcohol to underage persons(38), Englandand Wales, 1999 to 2003
		
			 Offence description Statute Year England and Wales 
		
		
			 Selling etc., intoxicating liquor to persons under 18 for consumption on the premises Licensing Act, 1964, Section 169(1); Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act1983, Schedule (Sec. 3) para. 4(1). 1999 204 
			   2000 130 
			   2001 155 
			   2002 168 
			   2003 604 
			 Wholesaler selling intoxicating liquor to a person under 18 Licensing Act 1964, Sec.181A(1) as added by Licensing Act 1988, Sec17. 1999 1 
			   2000 2 
			   2001 3 
			   2002 2 
			   2003 12 
		
	
	(38) These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(39) Petty sessional area.
	(40) Police force area.
	Source:
	RQSOffice for Criminal Justice Reform

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of antisocial behaviour orders have been breached.

Hazel Blears: Data on convictions for breach of an antisocial behaviour order (ASBO) are currently available from 1 June 2000 to 31 December 2003. Of the 1,892 ASBOs issued during this period, as reported to the Home Office, 42 per cent. of persons (793) breached their ASBO on one or more occasions. Breach data for 2004 will be available towards the end of the year.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to allow the media to publish the (a) names and (b) photographs of all those upon whom antisocial behaviour orders have been served, whatever their age; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 19 October 2005
	Antisocial behaviour orders are not subject to reporting restrictions as they are civil orders. ASBOs are designed to protect local communities and their effectiveness will depend on local people knowing about thempublicity should be expected in most cases.
	However, courts retain the right to impose reporting restrictions if they believe it appropriate to do so. Specific guidance on publicising antisocial behaviour orders is available on our website: www.together.gov.uk.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding is expected to be allocated for antisocial behaviour orders in Gravesham in 2005.

Hazel Blears: We do not allocate any funding for antisocial behaviour orders. Antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) are obtained from courts on application from local agencies and it is the responsibility of these agencies, in accordance with partnership working arrangements, to meet any associated costs.

Anti-terrorism Legislation

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were detained by the police under anti-terrorism legislation during the (a) Labour party conference in Brighton, (b) Conservative party conference in Blackpool and (c) Liberal Democrats conference in Blackpool.

Hazel Blears: The only detention power exercised under anti-terrorism legislation at any of the party conferences was the power to detain a person while conducting a search authorised by Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000. The power to detain a person under this provision relates only to the amount of time reasonably required to conduct a search. Numbers of stops and searches under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 are not collected centrally below police force area level.
	Statistics on stop and search are available on the Research, Development and Statistics page of the Home Office website.
	The Home Office Statistical Bulletin: 'Arrests for Notifiable Offences and the Operation of Certain Police Powers under PACE; England andWales,' details stops and searches under the Terrorism Act 2000, broken down by police force over financial years. The bulletin also shows subsequent arrests. The most recently available figures can be found on the Home Office website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/hosbpubs1.html

Arrest Warrants

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the police have the power to effect an arrest warrant in respect of a person while he is in an aeroplane on a runway at Heathrow.

Hazel Blears: Under section 17(1)(a) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) a constable may enter and search any premises for the purpose of executing a search warrant of arrest issued in connection with or arising out of criminal proceedings. An aircraft is specified under the meaning of 'premises' through section 23(a) of PACE.

Asylum Seekers

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Iraqi asylum seekers were receiving section 4 support from the National Asylum Support Service as at 31 July (a) 2005 and (b) 2004.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 17 October 2005
	Information on the number supported under section four for 31 July 2004 is not available. On 31 July 2005 there were 6115 1 nationals of Iraq in receipt of section four support.
	1 All figures are provisional and have been rounded to nearest 5.

Asylum Seekers

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of refused asylum seekers who did not make section four declarations in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 21 October 2005
	The information requested is not available.
	Available information on the number of failed asylum seekers that have been granted section four support is published quarterly. The next publication covering the third quarter of 2005 (July to September) will be available on 22 November on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html

Bruche Police Training Centre

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what information the Minister of State based his statement in a letter dated 13 July to the hon. Member for Warrington, North that there are currently no immediate plans to close the Bruche Police Training Centre.

Hazel Blears: Bruche is the property of the Central Police Training and Development Agency (Centrex) and, as such, the decision to sell the site is the responsibility of the Centrex board, based on advice from the Centrex chief executive.
	When I wrote to you on 13 July, no decision had been taken to close any Centrex site. Centrex were, however, considering various plans that involved closure of sites. At the Centrex board meeting on 21 July, the decision was taken to close three of Centrex's sites at the end of May 2006 when they cease providing foundation training to the police service.

Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the process of enabling agencies to comment on the draft regulations required under section 2 of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 to be completed.

Hazel Blears: Opportunity to comment on the draft Gating Order regulations made under section two of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 ended on 14 October 2005. Responses are currently being evaluated and the Home Office will consider commencement in light of these comments.

Community Legal Service (Scope) Regulations

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has commissioned on the effects of the Community Legal Service (Scope) Regulations 2004.

Bridget Prentice: I have been asked to reply.
	The asylum legal aid reforms introduced in April 2004, including the withdrawal of funding for the interview stage, were subject to a review in July 2004 by the Secretary of State.
	This review included meetings with the Legal Services Commission (LSC), the Law Society and immigration legal practitioners, including representatives of the Immigration Law Practitioners' Association and the Legal Aid Practitioners Group. The agreed way forward included consideration of options for providing greater certainty over costs to suppliers without any increase in average cost.
	The Government have given a public commitment to evaluate these reforms and work towards this is in hand.

Correspondence

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department will reply to the letter of 1 July from the hon. Member for Aylesbury to the Secretary of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate about the case of Mr. A.M., husband of Mrs. F.R. of Aylesbury, case reference LR 1476013470/1.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 21 October 2005
	I wrote to the hon. Member on 21 October 2005.

Correspondence

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Minister for Immigration will reply to the letters from the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, of 29 July and 26 September regarding Mrs. Basma Rahman, Home Office Reference Number K1149709.

Tony McNulty: I replied to my right hon. Friend on 24 October 2005.

Crime and Disorder Statistics

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the areas within the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham that have been designated under section 30 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003.

Hazel Blears: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that three areas in the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham have been designated under section 30 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act.
	These are the Cleverley Estate in Shepherds Bush from July 2004 to October 2004, Sanford Manor Estate, Cambria Road, Fulham from October 2004 to April 2005 and Sulivan Court, Peterborough Road, Fulham from November 2004 to May 2005.

Crime and Disorder Statistics

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences of (a) violence against the person, (b) sexual crime (c) robberies, (d) burglaries and (e) theft of a vehicle were recorded in the Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency.

Hazel Blears: The Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency comes within the Middlesbrough crime and disorder reduction partnership area. The number of recorded offences for the crimes requested are given in the table.
	
		Recorded crimes in the Middlesbrough crime and disorder reduction partnership area: 200405
		
			 Offence type Number 
		
		
			 Violence against the person 3,653 
			 Sexual offences(41) 373 
			 Robbery 457 
			 Domestic Burglary 1,637 
			 Theft of a motor vehicle 1,634 
		
	
	(41) The Sexual Offences Act 2003, introduced in May 2004, altered the definition and coverage of sexual offences.

Detection Rates

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what the percentage detection rate is for crimes committed against (a) under 18s, (b) 1824s and (c) over 24s as specifically as possible to the Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland constituency;
	(2)  how many young people under the age of 16 years have been reported missing in each year since 1997 and still not traced in (a) England and Wales, (b) Tees Valley and (c) Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not collected centrally by the Home Office.

Emergency Numbers (Mobile Phones)

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the proposal to encourage the saving of In Case of Emergency numbers in the address books of mobile phones; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 18 October 2005
	Following checks made on correspondence records, we can say that, to the best of my knowledge, I have not received any representations on the saving of In Case of Emergency numbers.

European Refugee Fund

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on expenditure by the European Refugee Fund since September 2000.

Tony McNulty: For the first phase of the European Refugee Fund, which ran from 2000 to 2004, the European Commission allocated 146.7 million (216 million), of which around 22 million was made available to the United Kingdom. Over this period the fund has been allocated to projects representing the three areas set by the European Commissionvoluntary returns, reception of asylum-seekers, and refugee integration. All grants must be matched by money from other sources.
	The United Kingdom has allocated all the funding received each year, although actual expenditure has in some cases been less than originally estimated. Final expenditure for this period has yet to be released by the European Commission following their scrutiny of reports from the projects.
	New rules for the expenditure of the European Refugee Fund came into force this year, following consultation with member states. The subjects for expenditure remain the same but grants may now be made for longer than one year. For 2005, approximately 6 million has been made available to the UK. Bids for grants were sought by the Home Office over the summer, and the successful applicants will be notified shortly.

Extradition Requests

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent requests have been made by foreign governments to the UK Government for extradition of named individuals; what the Government's response was in each case; and from which country each request came.

Andy Burnham: In the period 1 January-30 September 2005, there were 30 extradition requests to the UK Government in which arrests were made. These figures include requests in which arrests have been made under provisional warrant and full request papers have not yet been received. In order to avoid all risk of prejudice to individuals, to the conduct of cases, or to ongoing investigations, it is not the normal practice to list names of individuals who are the subjects of extradition requests.
	Also in order to avoid prejudice to ongoing investigations, we have excluded from the figures any requests which have not yet resulted in arrests. The figures include requests made to Scotland and Northern Ireland. However, they exclude requests made to the Crown Dependencies; and arrests made pursuant to European Arrest Warrants (EAWs), which are not Government-to-Government requests.
	The 30 requests came from the following countries:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Albania 1 
			 Australia 2 
			 Canada 3 
			 Croatia 2 
			 Czech Rep (42)1 
			 Germany (42)1 
			 Israel 2 
			 Italy (42)3 
			 Romania 7 
			 Russian Federation 2 
			 Turkey 1 
			 USA 5 
		
	
	(42) Pre-EAW
	To date, out of these requests, five have resulted in persons being returned to requesting states, while three have been discharged at Bow Street magistrates court, one was discharged at Lothian and Borders sheriff court and one was withdrawn before court proceedings. The remaining cases are progressing through the various stages laid down in the Extradition Act 2003.

Historic Sex Abuse Cases

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what support is provided for alleged offenders of historic sex abuse during (a) the investigation and (b) the trial.

Paul Goggins: Those accused of historic child abuse are afforded the same level of support as those accused of other sexual crimes, including the services of a solicitor and their nominated counsel to advise and guide them through the investigation and trial.

Historic Sex Abuse Cases

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times in the last 10 years media coverage has been assessed to have prejudiced an investigation into historic sex abuse.

Paul Goggins: The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Identity Cards

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the statement of the Under Secretary of State of 19 July 2005, Standing Committee D, column 413, on the Identity Cards Bill, whether all members of staff referred to as being in positions of trust will be subject to full police and security checks.

Andy Burnham: Staff members involved in the establishment and maintenance of the register as well as those involved in the issue, modification, cancellation or surrender of ID cards will be subject to checks to obtain an appropriate level of Government security clearance that is commensurate with their role.

Identity Cards

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his latest estimate is of the total cost of the identity cards scheme.

Tony McNulty: The current best estimate for the total average annual running costs for issuing passports and ID cards to UK nationals is 584million.

Identity Cards

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further assessment he has made of the reliability of technology features of the proposed identity card for purposes of validity since the answer given on the validity period on 10 December 2003, Official Report, column 497W.

Andy Burnham: The answer given to the earlier question, 10 December 2003, Official Report, column 497W, suggested that it may be necessary to replace the cards after five years to ensure their reliability. Since that time we have been able to undertake research into the capabilities of the market, we have held discussions with some card and chip manufacturers, and we have run a card durability survey to ask specific questions of a range of suppliers.
	The data gathered from these exercises suggest that it will be sensible to set a requirement that the card will last 10 years under normal use.

Identity Cards

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the KPMG review of the costing methodology and key cost assumptions of the identity card scheme arrived at the same current best estimate as the Government of the total average annual running costs for issuing passports and identity cards to UK nationals including allowances for contingency, optimism bias and non-recoverable VAT.

Tony McNulty: The KPMG review of the costing methodology and key cost assumptions did not create new estimates, but reviewed the assumptions made and the methods used in compiling the existing cost estimates. The review concluded that the methodology used to cost the ID cards proposals is robust and appropriate for this stage of development.

Identity Cards

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government plans to store high-definition images of (a) all and (b) some of the biometrics to be used for identity cards.

Andy Burnham: No firm decisions on the data storage standards for biometrics within the Identity Cards scheme have been taken. It is assumed that the facial image will be stored in a format similar to that recommended by International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) for use in Machine-Readable Travel Documents (MRTDs) which requires a high resolution image.
	It is also assumed that images of the other biometrics will be stored at a sufficient resolution to enable templates (the compact encodings of the essential patterns in iris and fingerprint biometrics which are used by matching algorithms) to be regenerated should the matching technology being used by the Identity Cards scheme be updated or changed.
	As the images will not be required for routine matching and may only be used for generating the template on enrolment and subsequent biometric renewal, they could therefore be stored in a separate database which may be managed as an archive.

Identity Cards

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 12 July 2005, Official Report, column 907W, on identity cards, whether the estimate referred to of the likely rates of failure includes an analysis of the failure rate of the (a) facial, (b) fingerprint and (c) iris biometric technology.

Andy Burnham: The answer given to the earlier question focused on the failure of the cards and the chips on the cards, not on the need to re-enrol biometrics which might arise if a person's physiological characteristics change after their biometrics are recorded as part of their enrolment into the Identity Cards scheme.

Illegal Alcohol Sales

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many retailers have been prosecuted in (a) South Tyneside, (b) Northumbria and (c) England and Wales for the illegal sale of alcohol to people under the age of 16 in each of the last 10 years.

Hazel Blears: Data on prosecutions for sales of alcohol to under-16s is unavailable because the offences concerned relate to under-18s. The available information, relating to sales of alcohol to under-18s in England and Wales, South Tyneside and Northumbria police force area, 1993 to 2003, is shown in the following table. Data for 2004 will be available in late November.
	
		Defendants proceeded against at magistrates' courts for offences relating to the sale of alcohol to underage persons(43) South Tyneside, Northumbria and England and Wales, 1993 to 2003 
		
			 Offence description Statute Year South Tyneside PSA(44) Northumbria PFA(45) England and Wales 
		
		
			 Selling etc., intoxicating liquor to persons under 18 for consumption on the premises Licensing Act, 1964, Section 169(1); Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983, Schedule (Sec. 3) para. 4(1 ). 1993  7 156 
			   1994 1 9 137 
			   1995  4 198 
			   1996 1 19 251 
			   1997 2 34 214 
			   1998 4 92 310 
			   1999 1 41 204 
			   2000  17 130 
			   2001  17 155 
			   2002  8 168 
			   2003  38 604 
			   
			 Wholesaler selling intoxicating liquor to a person under 18 Licensing Act 1964, Sec.181A(1) as added by Licensing Act 1988, Sec17. 1993
			   1994   1 
			   1995
			   1996
			   1997   1 
			   1998   1 
			   1999   1 
			   2000   2 
			   2001   3 
			   2002   2 
			   2003   12 
		
	
	(43) These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(44) Petty Sessional area.
	(45) Police force area.
	Source:
	RDSQffice for Criminal Justice Reform

Micro-bikes

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring forward legislation to enable the police to destroy micro-bikes seized under the Police Reform Act 2002 for use in an antisocial manner.

Hazel Blears: Once a vehicle has been seized, under section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002, the police must serve a notice on the vehicle's owner as soon as possible.
	This requires the owner to pay a charge for removal and storage in order to reclaim the vehicle, unless he can prove that its antisocial usage had been without his knowledge and consent and that he could not reasonably have prevented it. The police can dispose in any appropriate manner of a vehicle that is unclaimed.

National Identity Register

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the implications of having 13 items of biometric data for each person on the National Identity Register on the (a) estimated size of the database and (b) management of the data.

Andy Burnham: The algorithms which will be used to generate biometric templates have not been decided upon, nor have the standards to which the biometric images will be stored. However, based on currently available technology, the templates which will be used might be expected to take up a few 10's of Kilobytes per person and will therefore form the bulk of the data in the main part of the National Identity Register (NIR) but will not make the database so large as to be unmanageable.
	The biometric imagesthat is the raw image data from which the templates are generatedwill be substantially larger but will not be required for routine matching and may only be used for generating the template on enrolment and subsequent biometric renewal. They could therefore be stored in a separate database which may be managed as an archive.

Parliamentary Questions

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will answer the question from the hon. Member for Portsmouth South, dated 19 May, reference 330.

Paul Goggins: I replied to the hon. Member on 24 October 2005, Official Report, column 40W.

Passports

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment the Government have made of the impact on the Government's current best estimate of the total average annual running costs for issuing passports and identity cards to UK nationals, including allowances for contingency, optimism bias, and non-recoverable VAT, of (a) extending the sensitivity analysis, (b) revisiting the process for estimating contingency and (c) revisiting cost assumptions in line with the recommendations of the KPMG review of the costing methodology and key cost assumptions of the identity card scheme.

Tony McNulty: The current best estimate for the total average running costs for issuing passports and ID cards to UK nationals is 584 million, at 200506 prices and including allowances for contingency, optimism bias and non-recoverable VAT. My officials are reviewing the recommendations of the KPMG review and will be acting on them in future iterations of the costings.

Police

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the timetable is for the amalgamation of police forces in England and Wales.

Hazel Blears: The Home Secretary has asked police forces and authorities to develop options for force restructuring over the next three months and to submit their final reports including their preferred options to the Home Office by 23 December. The timetable for implementation remains to be decided but the intention is to have the new structures in place by 2008.

Police

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police cells are in use in Bournemouth; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: This is an operational matter for the chief constable of Dorset Police but I understand that there are 14 cells and four detention rooms at Bournemouth police station; and that there are plans to build a new 30 cell custody block at Bournemouth Divisional HQ.

Police

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements for parliamentary scrutiny he plans for the proposals for restructuring of police forces; and to what timetable.

Hazel Blears: Sections 32 to 34 of the Police Act 1996 make provision for the alteration of police force areas in England and Wales (other than the City of London police area) by secondary legislation. Under these provisions the Secretary of State may make an order either if he has received a request to make alterations from the police authorities for each of the areas affected by them (in which case the negative resolution procedure applies), or if it appears to him that it is expedient to make the alterations in the interests of efficiency and effectiveness (in which case the affirmative procedure applies). Police authorities and forces have been asked to submit their proposals for restructuring by 23 December 2005. My right hon. friend Home Secretary will make a further announcement on the way forward once these submissions have been considered.

Police

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that no police force will (a) suffer a reduced budget and (b) be required to reduce the number of police, community support officers or non-uniformed staff it employs under the new funding formula for the police service.

Hazel Blears: It is the responsibility of each police authority to set a budget each year, taking into account local circumstances and resources at its disposal. Our commitment is that by 2008 every area in England and Wales will benefit from neighbourhood policing, supported by the neighbourhood policing fund. We will provide continued investment, including provision for 24,000 community support officers by 2008.
	The provisional police grant settlement announcements for 200607 and 200708 will be made in late November/early December. For the first time, authorities will be able to plan realistically for service provision, knowing their grant for the coming two years rather than one.

Police

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with chief constables on the restructuring of police forces; what terms of reference he has given to (a) chief constables and (b) police authorities in relation to the consultation on restructuring; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 17 October 2005
	The Home Secretary outlined the need for force restructuring as recommended in HMIC's report Closing the Gap to all chief officers and chairs of police authorities on 19 September.
	My right hon. Friend then wrote to all chief officers and chairs of police authorities in England and Wales on 22 September to set out his views on the development of options for force restructuring. To support the development of proposals for change, a toolkit and guidance to help forces with evaluating options has been sent to all forces and authorities.

Police

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department issues to police forces on regular health and fitness tests for police motorcycle riders; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 18 October 2005
	The Home Office has not issued guidance on health and fitness tests for police motorcycle riders. It is the responsibility of forces under health and safety legislation to ensure that risk assessments for the physical and medical requirements of specialist police roles and posts are undertaken.

Police

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was paid out by the Metropolitan Police in rewards for information relating to crimes in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis is responsible for the operational management of, and allocation of funding by, the force. I will ensure that he receives a copy of the question and replies to you directly in response to your concerns.

Police

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the letter of 3 August from the Minister of State to the hon. Member for Warrington, North, on what information she based her statement that Centrex had not timed its announcement of the closure of police training centres to avoid parliamentary scrutiny.

Hazel Blears: Centrex were not in a position to announce that decision before Parliament rose. The decision was not timed to avoid parliamentary scrutiny. Home Office officials attended the Centrex board meeting scheduled for 21 July and agreed the timing of the decision and its announcement at this meeting.
	It would not have been possible to make an announcement before the board had made a decision. Given that this affects people's jobs it would have been unacceptable to delay the announcement until after parliamentary recess.

Police

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the letter from the Minister of State to the hon. Member for Warrington, North of 3 August, if he will make it his policy to ensure that announcements about closures of police training centres are made when the House is sitting.

Hazel Blears: I agree that while every effort should be made for announcements of this sort to take place at a time when Parliament can raise questions about them, closure of these sites is the responsibility of Centrex and parliamentary timing should not be the only consideration.

Psychics

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police authorities have used the services of a psychic; and at what cost; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The use of psychics by police forces is an operational matter for individual chief officers. Information on their use is not collected centrally.

Retina Identification

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 20 July 2005, Official Report, column 1786W, in what proportion of iris identification checks a misidentification or other error is expected for those who (a) wear and (b) do not wear contact lenses.

Andy Burnham: Reports (Independent Testing of Biometric Technology, Final Report International Biometrics Group, May 2005) of recent iris recognition trials with a mix of contact lens wearers and non-contact lens wearers have demonstrated a recognition accuracy of 99.4 per cent. with a 0.00129 per cent. chance of an impostor being misidentified as another person.
	The effects of wearing contact lenses will be quantified in tests scheduled for next year, however we believe that most contact lens wearers will have no difficulty using iris recognition.

Sexual Offences Act

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 21 July 2005, Official Report, column 2219W, on the Sexual Offences Act, if he will publish such data as he has broken down by constabulary.

Paul Goggins: Further to the answer given on 21 July, the recorded crime data in relation to section 15 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 by police force area are given in the following table.
	
		Recorded crime of sexual grooming by police force area May 2004 to March 2005
		
			 Number 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 12 
			 Bedfordshire 2 
			 Cambridgeshire 6 
			 Cheshire 0 
			 Cleveland 1 
			 Cumbria 0 
			 Derbyshire 2 
			 Devon and Cornwall 8 
			 Dorset 2 
			 Durham 0 
			 Dyfed-Powys 0 
			 Essex 4 
			 Gloucestershire 5 
			 Greater Manchester 11 
			 Gwent 1 
			 Hampshire 18 
			 Hertfordshire 0 
			 Humberside 12 
			 Kent 4 
			 Lancashire 4 
			 Leicestershire 12 
			 Lincolnshire 3 
			 London, City of 1 
			 Merseyside 5 
			 Metropolitan Police 18 
			 Norfolk 4 
			 Northamptonshire 2 
			 Northumbria 4 
			 North Wales 6 
			 North Yorkshire 1 
			 Nottinghamshire 1 
			 South Wales 1 
			 South Yorkshire 2 
			 Staffordshire 5 
			 Suffolk 0 
			 Surrey 0 
			 Sussex 2 
			 Thames Valley 10 
			 Warwickshire 0 
			 West Mercia 4 
			 West Midlands 5 
			 West Yorkshire 4 
			 Wiltshire 3 
			 Total 185

Street Drinking (Wales)

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures have been introduced to reduce street drinking in Wales since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The Government take the problem of street drinking and antisocial behaviour very seriously. That is why we introduced local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, and the Anti-social Behaviour Act in 2003both of which cover England and Wales.
	Measures introduced to help reduce street drinking in Wales from 1997 include the Lions Breath project and the Targeting Alcohol Related Street Crime (TASC) initiative in Cardiff, the Calling time on Violent Crime initiative in Swansea and the national Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaigns which took place over the summer and Christmas period last year.
	The Violent Crime Reduction Bill, which is currently before Parliament and covers England and Wales, includes further measures like alcohol disorder zones, drinking banning orders and dispersal powers which may also have an impact on street drinking.

Student Visas (Deportations)

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been deported after attempting to procure a student visa in the last 10 years.

Tony McNulty: This information is not available, and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Statistics on the number of persons deported from the UK are published in the Control of Immigration Statistics Command Paper on the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html

Telecommunications Mast

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date the Tetra telecommunications mast in Haverfordwest was activated.

Hazel Blears: The operation of Airwave masts is a matter for O2 Airwave, the network provider.

Travellers

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Government's policy is on dealing with Travellers who are deemed to be staying on illegal sites.

Yvette Cooper: The joint Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM)/Home Office document, Guidance on Managing Unauthorised Camping provides comprehensive advice to local authorities, the police and other landowners on dealing with unauthorised encampments. This document can be found on the ODPM website at:
	http.//www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_housing/documents/page/odpm_house_027535.hcsp
	Where Travellers are occupying sites without planning permission local authorities have a range of discretionary enforcement powers available to them.

Zimbabwe

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many officials from his Department visited Zimbabwe during the summer to report on conditions for returned failed asylum seekers;
	(2)  whether officials from his Department met representatives of the Zimbabwean Government when they visited Zimbabwe in the summer;
	(3)  if he will place in the Library a copy of the report prepared by officials from his Department following their visit to Zimbabwe in the summer.

Tony McNulty: A team of three Home Office and two Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials visited Harare between 4 and 10 September. The team was concerned with the issue of failed asylum seekers returned to Zimbabwe from the UK. The team met a broad range of non-governmental organisations and representatives of civil society.
	A visit was paid to the Zimbabwean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Zimbabwean Immigration Service, in both cases these were courtesy visits which did not form part of the substantive work of the team. Due to the political climate in Zimbabwe, the meetings with some of the sources were conducted on the basis that their identities would not be revealed except in relation to the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) proceedings. The AIT decided to make an order under the Contempt of Court Act 1981 by which those sources which had requested anonymity were protected, and accordingly the team's summary of their evidence was not made public. However, the team's evidence is noted in detail in the determination of the AIT, which can be viewed on the AIT website at: http://www.ait.gov.uk/determinations.do

NORTHERN IRELAND

Illegal Fuel

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been charged in relation to the operation of illegal fuel laundering plants within Northern Ireland in the last three years.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	The number of people charged related to hydrocarbon oils fraud in Northern Ireland during the last three years are as set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of people charged 
		
		
			 200102 7 
			 200203 5 
			 200304 6 
		
	
	The figures relate to charges for all types of hydrocarbon oils fraud.

Illegal Fuel

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  how many petrol filling station owners have been convicted of selling illegally laundered fuel in Northern Ireland in the last three years;
	(2)  how many petrol filling station owners have been convicted of selling smuggled fuel in Northern Ireland in the last three years.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	The number of convictions secured which are related to hydrocarbon oils fraud in Northern Ireland during the last three years are as set out in the table.
	
		
			  Number of convictions 
		
		
			 200102 15 
			 200203 3 
			 200304 4 
		
	
	The figures relate to convictions for all types of hydrocarbon oils fraud.
	Figures for 200405 will be published in HMRC's Annual Report 200405.

Tax Credit Inquiries

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will re-introduce personnel in the Regional Inland Revenue Office in Belfast who would be available to meet interested parties such as public representatives and recognised advisory services in Northern Ireland in order to tackle complex problems associated with tax credit inquiries.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	Hon. Members, Members of the Legislative Assembly and recognised advisory services in Northern Ireland have access to dedicated helplines that deal with their tax credits queries. HM Revenue and Customs considers all requests to meet with public representatives and recognised advisory services and, where appropriate, meetings do take place.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Asylum and Immigration

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the adequacy of provision of publicly-funded advice for asylum seekers in Swindon; and what steps are being taken by the Legal Services Commission to ensure adequate legal advice for asylum seekers in the Swindon area.

Bridget Prentice: In order to ensure adequate access to legal advice for asylum seekers in the Swindon area, the Immigration Advisory Service (IAS), a national provider of immigration and asylum legal services, runs a 'surgery' every Monday at Swindon citizens advice bureau.
	The Legal Services Commission (LSC) believes that this is currently sufficient to meet demand in the area. The LSC regularly monitors the supply of immigration advice and would increase provision or the allocation of new matter starts available to suppliers if this seemed necessary to cope with demand.

Departmental Vehicles

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many vehicles for which the Department is responsible are fitted with retreaded tyres.

Bridget Prentice: It is policy in my Department to operate official vehicles using only new (as opposed to retreaded) tyres. None of the vehicles brought onto the Department's fleet prior to 1 April 2005 are currently fitted with retreaded tyres. Similarly none of the new vehicles brought onto the fleet since to 1 April 2005 are currently fitted with retreaded tyres.
	On 1 April 2005, following the implementation of the Courts Act 2003, the Department became responsible for vehicles owned or leased by the 41 former magistrates courts committees, and the GLMCA, in England and Wales. The information required to answer the question in respect of these vehicles is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	For information on the use of retread tyres in vehicles provided to the Department by the Government Car and Despatch Agency I refer the hon. Member to the letter of 11 October 2005 which he received from the chief executive of the GCDA, reference UIN15087 and UIN15088. Copies of this letter are available in the Library.

Human Rights

David Taylor: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what recent submissions the Department has received in support of the revision of human rights legislation.

Harriet Harman: The Department receives a moderate volume of public correspondence about the Human Rights Act representing all shades of opinion from strong support to calls for its repeal.

Judicial Appointments

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many (a) High Court judges, (b) county court judges, (c) masters, (d) magistrates and (e) occupants of other judicial positions have been appointed in each year since 1997; and what the perceived community background was of each of the persons appointed.

Bridget Prentice: Statistics on judicial appointments are collated by business years (April to March). Since 1997, there were 53 full-time judicial appointments made in Northern Ireland. In addition 272 lay magistrates were appointed in April 2005. Details of the full-time appointments are given as follows: 
	
		Judicial appointments 199798 to present
		
			  199798 199899 19992000 200001 200102 200203 200304 200405 2005 to date 
		
		
			 Lord Chief Justice   1   
			 Lord Justice of Appeal  1  1  
			 High Court Judge 1 1 1  1   3  
			 County Court Judge  3  1 1  1 4 1 
			 Resident Magistrate 2 3 1 2 1  2  2 
			 District Judge 1   1  
			 Master of the High Court 1 2   1   1 2 
			 Chief Social Security and Child Support Commissioner 1 
			 Official Solicitor  1
			 Total 6 11 2 4 4 0 4 9 5 
		
	
	Equity monitoring information, including community background, on applicants for judicial appointment was not collected prior to 2004. Publication of such information for individuals appointed after that date would be a contravention of the principles of fair employment monitoring.

Judicial Appointments

Michael Penning: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the Government's policy is on the minimum legal qualifications necessary for a judicial appointment; and if she will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: The eligibility requirements for judicial appointments are set down in statute. They vary according to the judicial office concerned, but in general they provide that before being considered for judicial appointment, an individual must have possessed specified rights of audience before the courts for a specified length of time. My right hon. and Noble Friend the Lord Chancellor announced in July this year that as part of the programme of work to increase the diversity of the judiciary, the Government would legislate when time permitted to change the current statutory requirements. Specifically, suitably qualified legal executives, patent agents and trade mark attorneys would become eligible for some appointments, and the requirement for rights of audience would be replaced with a requirement for a specified (and reduced) number of years post qualification legal experience. I would refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement I made on 13 July 2005, Official Report, columns 2527WS.

Legal Services Board

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the remit of the Legal Services Board will be; and when it will commence operations.

Bridget Prentice: The Government published a White Paper on 17 October 2005 setting out proposals for the future of legal services in England and Wales. The reforms will put the needs of consumers first in the provision of legal services.
	The Government will establish a regulator, the Legal Services Board (LSB), to provide oversight regulation of reserved legal services in England and Wales. It will be independent of Government and providers of legal services. The LSB will authorise Front Line Regulators, such as the Bar Council and Law Society, to carry out day to day regulation, if they meet its high standards. The LSB will have powers to act if Front Line Regulators fail. This will include the power to set regulatory targets, impose fines and to modify or remove the authorisation of a Front Line Regulator if it fails, and to carry out regulatory functions itself in those circumstances.
	There will be clear statutory objectives and principles, which will apply to the Legal Services Board, Front Line Regulators and the new Office for Legal Complaints. The objectives will be to: support the rule of law; improve access to justice; protect and promote consumers' interests; promote competition; encourage a strong and effective legal profession; to increase public understanding of the citizen's legal rights and maintain the principles of those providing legal services. The principles are independence, integrity, the duty to act in the best interest of the client, and client confidentiality.
	The Government will publish a Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny in the current Session of Parliament. Legislation will be introduced after that as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Marked Electoral Registers

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to the answer of 23 May 2005, Official Report, column 38W, on marked registers, whether VAT is payable on the charges listed.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	I understand that VAT is currently being charged on the fees payable for accessing marked registers. HMRC are currently discussing the matter with the Department for Constitutional Affairs.

Volunteering

Nick Gibb: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many volunteering positions her Department has offered in each of the last five years.

Bridget Prentice: The main routes through which my Department has the greatest contact with the voluntary and community sector are through the appointment of magistrates and via the DCA's main non-departmental public body, the Legal Services Commission and their role in administering legal aid. In terms of annual appointments, 1,766 magistrates were appointed year ending March 2005. In the previous years the appointments were 1,768 (2004), 1,623 (2003), 1,447 (2002), 1,618 (2001).
	My Department and the Legal Services Commission jointly provide funding of 200,000 p.a. to the LawWorks volunteering project. In its first three-year phase the project created over 2,000 volunteering opportunities in law clinics, provided training sessions in key areas of law for those volunteering and developed on line advice provision.